Rachel C. Hernandez Acting United States Attorney for the District of Arizona | U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona
Bonifacio Renteria-Cruz, a 48-year-old Mexican citizen, was arrested on charges of illegal re-entry into the United States. The operation was led by Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) in coordination with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, under the guidance of Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Deputy Director Madison Sheahan. Renteria-Cruz faces charges in violation of Title 8, U.S.C. 1326(a) and (b)(1).
In 2006, Renteria-Cruz was convicted of aggravated assault, a class 3 felony, in Maricopa County Superior Court, Arizona. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison and was deported to Mexico in 2008. Subsequently, Mexican authorities charged him with homicide related to events in 2009, after which he became a fugitive.
HSI received a tip in January 2025 that Renteria-Cruz had re-entered the U.S. illegally. The agency located and identified him, leading to his arrest on April 8, 2025, during an immigration operation.
This arrest is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations.
The criminal complaint is a formal charge and does not imply guilt. Under U.S. law, individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
The investigation was carried out by Homeland Security Investigations in Phoenix, Arizona. Assistant U.S. Attorney Addison Owen is handling the prosecution.
