During the week of February 14 to February 20, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona filed immigration-related criminal charges against 179 individuals. According to the office, 112 cases involved illegal re-entry into the United States, while 53 individuals were charged with illegal entry. Additionally, authorities brought 13 cases against 14 people accused of smuggling undocumented immigrants into or within Arizona.
The prosecutions followed referrals and support from several federal agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
One case cited in this period was United States v. Kevin Salguero-Chacon. On February 19, Salguero-Chacon was charged with transportation of an illegal alien after a traffic stop on I-10 westbound revealed several individuals dressed in camouflage lying in a vehicle's rear cargo area. Border Patrol agents found seven passengers inside—two of them juveniles—all citizens of Mexico unlawfully present in the country. Salguero-Chacon is identified as a citizen of Guatemala.
In another case, United States v. Joel Portillo-Saucedo, Portillo-Saucedo faced charges for bringing in illegal aliens and re-entry after removal on February 17. A Border Patrol agent discovered four people concealed under bushes near I-8; two fled but were apprehended. Authorities determined that Portillo-Saucedo acted as a foot guide for $1,000 per person transported. All involved are citizens of Mexico unlawfully present in the United States.
A third case highlighted was United States v. Armando Gomez-Talavera. On February 17, Gomez-Talavera was charged with transportation of illegal aliens for profit following an incident involving a suspected smuggling vehicle near the border. Agents used a Vehicle Immobilization Device to stop the truck after it failed to yield; all occupants attempted to flee but were apprehended nearby by Border Patrol agents. Gomez-Talavera and five others were identified as Mexican nationals unlawfully present in the country.
The office noted: "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."
For more information about ongoing enforcement efforts or updates from the District of Arizona’s U.S. Attorney’s Office, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/.
