The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas announced on Mar. 27 that it filed 439 new cases against 440 individuals related to immigration and border security matters between March 20 and March 26.
These prosecutions are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide effort to address illegal immigration, target criminal organizations, and improve public safety. The initiative brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to respond to crimes associated with border security.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck, the district filed 187 criminal complaints for illegal entry and charged another 236 people with felony reentry after prior removal. Many of those charged have previous felony convictions involving narcotics, violent crime, or other offenses. Twelve individuals face human smuggling charges while other cases involve firearms or additional immigration crimes.
Six people were reportedly found in the McAllen area this week facing various charges related to illegal reentry or prior convictions such as domestic assault or aggravated assault strangulation. If convicted of illegal reentry, each could face up to twenty years in federal prison.
In addition to these cases, a man known as “Two-Face,” identified as Savin Seng from Cambodia, was sentenced to fifteen years for being an illegal alien in possession of a weapon linked to a fatal shooting outside Victoria last October. Authorities say Seng had previously been ordered removed from the United States but remained unlawfully present and possessed multiple firearms while residing illegally.
Federal agencies involved include Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations; ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations; Border Patrol; Drug Enforcement Administration; FBI; U.S. Marshals Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; along with state and local partners.
The Southern District of Texas covers forty-three counties across more than forty-four thousand square miles with offices in Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi, Laredo, McAllen and Brownsville according to its official website. It employs over two hundred attorneys serving more than nine million residents as detailed by the office.
Notable former leaders include Alamdar Hamdani (2022-2025) and Ryan Patrick according to the official history page. The office is part of the Department of Justice under the Attorney General as described online.
Officials stress that indictments or complaints are only accusations until proven through due process: "A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law."
