Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 83 border-related cases this week, according to a May 8 announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the district. The charges include bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the United States after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.
The high number of filings reflects the district's position as one of the busiest federal jurisdictions due to its proximity to Mexico and large volume of border-related crimes. The Southern District covers San Diego and Imperial counties and shares a 140-mile border with Mexico, including major ports such as San Ysidro—the world’s busiest land border crossing.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, "In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security." The office added that recent developments in these areas can be found on their website.
Among this week's arrests was Alexis Rios, a U.S. citizen charged with bringing in aliens for financial gain after two unauthorized immigrants from Guatemala were found concealed under his car at San Ysidro Port of Entry. Another case involved Juan Manuel Quintana Amador from Mexico who was arrested for importing over 25 pounds of cocaine hidden inside a commercial passenger bus bathroom wall at San Ysidro Port of Entry. Jose Miguel Carcamo Maradiaga from Honduras was also arrested after being found hiding north of the border; he had previously been deported in August 2024 through Alexandria, Louisiana.
The immigration cases were referred or supported by several 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), Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as well as state and local partners.
Officials emphasized that indictments and criminal complaints are allegations only; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
