Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 122 border-related cases this week, including charges such as bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the United States after deportation, and importation of controlled substances, according to a July 24 announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The Southern District of California is identified as the fourth-busiest federal district due to a high volume of border-related crimes. The district covers San Diego and Imperial counties and shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, described as the world’s busiest land border crossing between San Diego and Tijuana.
In addition to reactive prosecution of border crimes, officials said they also handle proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking, and national security.
Among arrests highlighted this week: On July 19, Marcos Chavez-Nieto was arrested for being a deported alien found in the United States after Border Patrol agents encountered him east of Otay Mesa Port of Entry; on July 20, Rosario Lopez Gamez and Jose Manuel Aguero Garcia were arrested for attempted bringing in aliens for financial gain after being intercepted by Coast Guard near Point Loma; Jeremy Marin Avilez was charged with attempted reentry after deportation; on July 21, Marly Soledad Cruz Guardado was arrested at San Ysidro Port of Entry for alleged importation of more than 133 pounds of methamphetamine and almost nine pounds of cocaine concealed within her vehicle.
The immigration cases were referred or supported by multiple 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 (USBP), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). State and local law enforcement partners also provided support.
Officials noted that indictments and criminal complaints are allegations only; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.