Rachel C. Hernandez Acting United States Attorney for the District of Arizona | U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona has filed immigration-related criminal charges against 261 individuals during a week-long enforcement operation from April 5 to April 11, 2025. This includes 103 cases of illegal re-entry and 140 cases of illegal entry into the United States. Additionally, they filed 14 cases against 18 individuals involved in smuggling illegal aliens within the District of Arizona.
The enforcement operations were supported by several federal law enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations, ICE Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Among the notable cases is "United States v. Sanchez-Marcial." Ofricino Sanchez-Marcial was apprehended on April 8, 2025, on charges of harboring illegal aliens. The complaint alleges that Sanchez-Marcial detained a Guatemalan citizen illegally residing in the U.S. and sent threatening messages to the individual's family demanding a ransom of $135,000.
Another case, "United States v. Renteria-Cruz," involves Bonifacio Renteria-Cruz, a 48-year-old Mexican citizen, who was arrested on April 8 for illegal re-entry. His capture was part of an operation led by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan. Renteria-Cruz was deported following a 2006 aggravated assault conviction and was later charged in Mexico with homicide related to a 2009 incident. He remained a fugitive until his arrest.
The U.S. Attorney's Office emphasizes that a criminal complaint does not imply guilt. An individual remains innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by a jury.
These initiatives are part of "Operation Take Back America," a Department of Justice effort to combat illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations. This operation aligns with the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood programs.
