During the week of August 2 to August 8, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona filed immigration-related criminal charges against 172 individuals. The cases included 77 instances of illegal re-entry into the United States and 73 cases involving illegal entry. Additionally, authorities charged 22 individuals in connection with smuggling activities related to bringing undocumented persons into or through Arizona.
Federal law enforcement agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) referred or supported these cases.
One highlighted case involved Josue Sanchez, an 18-year-old U.S. citizen who was on federal probation for transporting illegal aliens at the time of his arrest. On August 5, a Pinal County Sheriff’s Detective attempted to stop Sanchez's vehicle on Interstate 10 after it sped away from police and stopped in the desert. Three people fled but were apprehended; two were Mexican citizens illegally present in the country. Sanchez faces charges for transportation of an illegal alien.
Another case involved Luis Alberto Romero Garcia, who was stopped by Payson Police on July 9 while driving a minivan carrying eleven passengers—all Mexican citizens illegally present in the United States. Because local police lacked federal authority to detain them during that initial stop, all occupants were released pending further investigation. On August 5, Homeland Security Investigations agents located the same minivan in Phoenix with more passengers than seats or seatbelts; two unaccompanied minors were among those found lying unrestrained on the floorboards. Romero Garcia has been charged with transportation of an illegal alien.
A third case featured Gilberto Trevizo-Garcia, who was charged on August 7 with re-entry after removal from the United States following a previous conviction in Ohio for conspiracy to possess and distribute controlled substances. Trevizo-Garcia had served a sentence of over six years before being removed from the country.
These prosecutions are part of Operation Take Back America—a national initiative using Department of Justice resources to address unlawful immigration and target cartels and transnational criminal organizations by coordinating efforts through programs like Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). More information about these initiatives can be found at http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/.
“A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
