Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 134 border-related cases this week, according to an April 24 announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The large number of filings highlights the continued challenges posed by crimes at the U.S.-Mexico border, including smuggling, reentry after deportation, and drug importation. The district includes San Diego and Imperial counties and shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It is recognized as one of the busiest federal districts due to its proximity to major ports of entry such as San Ysidro, which connects San Diego and Tijuana.
This week’s arrests included several notable cases. On April 18, Ebelia Lopez Orozco was arrested after Customs and Border Protection officers found over 161 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in her vehicle at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. On April 20, Santos Andres Torres-Hernandez was charged with bringing in aliens for financial gain after two unauthorized individuals were discovered concealed inside his car’s roof storage compartment while seeking entry into the United States at San Ysidro. On April 22, Javier Torres-Alvares was arrested east of Otay Mesa Port of Entry on charges related to reentering the country after a previous deportation in 2018.
The office also handles proactive prosecutions involving terrorism, organized crime, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security matters.
Federal law enforcement agencies including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) supported these efforts along with state and local partners.
Officials noted that indictments or criminal complaints are only allegations at this stage; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
