Final week of August brings another massive number – 356 – of new border security-related cases in SDTX, including nearly 70 as a result of ‘Operation Pick-Off’ (DOJ)

HOUSTON - Between Aug. 22-28, a total of 356 individuals have been charged in immigration and related matters as part of ongoing enforcement efforts along the South Texas border, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

A total of 180 people face charges of illegally reentering the country after removal, most with prior felony convictions for narcotics, violent crime, sexual offenses, prior immigration crimes and more. Another 153 people face charges of illegally entering the country, 13 other defendants are charged with human smuggling and the remaining 10 individuals have varying charges to include firearms offenses, assaulting federal officers and other related immigration crimes.

Some of those facing new criminal charges are a result of "Operation Pick-Off," a new initiative that targets those illegally residing in the United States while serving terms of probation following convictions for state crimes, such as drug offenses, human smuggling, fraud, burglary and assault. The enforcement effort, announced Aug. 25, led to federal charges against 67 illegal aliens in the Rio Grande Valley area, 65 of whom had returned to the country after being previously removed, only to commit other crimes, according to the allegations.

"For those that want to come to this country without permission and then victimize American citizens once here, we are more than happy to accommodate them with a stay at a federal facility, followed by a one-way ticket home," said Ganjei. "SDTX will not rest until we've brought Operation Pick-Off to each and every one of the Southern District's 43 counties. If you're here illegally and you commit crimes in our community, you can expect a visit from us, and that visit is going to come sooner rather than later. This is what Operation Take Back America looks like."

Also, part of the new cases filed this week include charges against two Mexican nationals who had been removed in May but allegedly returned illegally shortly thereafter. The criminal complaints allege authorities found Jairo Neftali Velasco-Gomez and Luis Alberto Mejia-Bertrand near Fronton and Hidalgo, respectively. Velasco-Gomez has a prior conviction for being an alien in possession of a firearm, while Mejia-Bertrand had been sentenced for transporting/harboring illegal aliens prior to his removal, according to their charges.

This week law enforcement also found three other Mexican nationals who had previously been removed near Edinburg, according to the criminal complaints. Charges allege Edgar Omar Gallegos-Aboytes and Monico Espinoza-Martinez have both been sentenced previously for illegal reentry crimes, while Julio Cesar Martinez-Arjona has a prior conviction for assault of a family member.

Authorities also found Honduran national Jose Alberto Medina-Atunez near Escobares this week, he has been alleged to have been previously removed from the United States after being convicted of possessing cocaine. Others charged with illegally reentering the United States after being removed include three more Mexican nationals whose alleged prior convictions include transporting/harboring illegal aliens, firearms and drug offenses. These complaints allege Angel Alejandro Salazar-Cantu, Alberto Karr-Magana and Ramon Pena-Medina had each been previously removed but returned again unlawfully - all of them now face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted of illegal reentry into the United States.

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.

An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.