Sandra Meza-Casillas, a 51-year-old Mexican national, has been sentenced to 24 months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to assaulting a federal officer. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Angela M. Martinez on August 11.
The incident occurred on April 16, 2025, in Nogales, Arizona. According to court documents, a United States Border Patrol Agent was attempting to apprehend an individual who had crossed the international border wall. The agent found Meza-Casillas lying on her stomach on the border road. When approached, she ran eastbound along the International Border road while two men appeared to guide her from the south side of the border wall. After a short pursuit, the agent caught up with Meza-Casillas and attempted to arrest her. She then turned around and sprayed pepper spray at the agent’s left cheek.
"This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN)."
The investigation was conducted by United States Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rui Wang prosecuted the case for the District of Arizona in Tucson.
