In a recent operation, the Southern District of Texas has filed 95 cases related to immigration and border security between June 27 and July 2. This initiative, known as Operation Take Back America, was announced by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The charges include illegal entry into the United States for 62 individuals and felony reentry after prior removal for another 26. Many of these individuals have previous convictions for serious offenses such as narcotics and violent crimes. Other cases involve human smuggling, drug trafficking, and firearms violations.
One significant case involves charges against 16 foreign nationals in Houston connected to drug trafficking and weapons allegations. These individuals are allegedly linked to the Anti-Tren criminal organization, which is associated with violent activities similar to those committed by members of Tren de Aragua.
"The Southern District’s twin priorities are securing our border and the eradication of violent crime," said Ganjei. "Operation Take Back America means going on the offensive against transnational criminal organizations to ensure that they cannot take root in our community and endanger public safety."
New complaints include illegal reentry by several Mexican nationals who had been previously removed from the country. Notable among them is Cesar Alejandro Tovar-Guillen, who was found unlawfully present near Alton after being removed in March. Others facing similar charges include Osvaldo Aguilar-Aguilar, Jose Alejandro Dominguez-Guzman, and Juan Esquivel-Garcia.
In McAllen, Margarito Llanes received a sentence of 52 months for alien smuggling following a high-speed pursuit that resulted in injuries to eight passengers.
Two other Mexican nationals were sentenced for illegal reentry: Luis Ernesto Hernandez-Doria received a 51-month sentence while Jose Angel Lopez-Herrera was sentenced to 46 months.
These cases were supported by federal law enforcement agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with state and local partners.
Operation Take Back America aims to combat illegal immigration and dismantle cartels through coordinated efforts from various Department of Justice initiatives like Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
The Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest jurisdictions nationwide due to its expansive coverage area across 43 counties with over nine million residents. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from divisions including Houston work closely with law enforcement at all levels on these prosecutions.
It is important to note that an indictment or criminal complaint is merely an accusation; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty through due process.
