Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California have filed 153 border-related cases this week. The charges include assault on a federal officer, bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is one of the busiest federal districts due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district covers San Diego and Imperial counties and shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, which is known as the world’s busiest land border crossing.
The Southern District also handles numerous proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking, and national security.
Among this week's arrests are several notable cases:
- On May 11, Mario Santiago-Velasquez was arrested and charged with being a Deported Alien Found in The United States. He has previous convictions for five immigration crimes and Malicious Destruction of Property.
- On May 12, Juan Jose Perez-Garcia was sentenced to seven months in custody for illegally entering the U.S., following prior convictions including felony reentry-after-deportation.
- On May 13, Juan Nazario Lizarraga Peralta was arrested at the San Ysidro Port of Entry with fentanyl and cocaine strapped to his body.
- On May 13, Oscar Echevarria-Luque was charged with illegal importation of cocaine after officers found over 200 pounds concealed in his trailer.
- On May 14, Ernesto Alejandro Rodriguez Gallegos was caught attempting to cross the border with cocaine hidden in his vehicle.
Additionally, some defendants were convicted or sentenced for similar offenses:
- Serafin Abelino-Medel received a sentence of 15 months for illegal reentry into the U.S., having previously been convicted of various assaults.
- Isaac Lopez-Rodriguez was sentenced to two years for illegal reentry after a prior conviction for Attempt to Commit Aggravated Assault.
Federal law enforcement is focusing on prosecuting undocumented aliens involved in criminal activities under Operation Take Back America priorities. These efforts target individuals committing drug and firearms crimes or those with serious criminal records.
These immigration cases involve collaboration among multiple federal agencies such as Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Border Patrol (USBP), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives (ATF) along with state and local law enforcement partners.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
