Federal prosecutors in South Texas file 271 immigration and border security related criminal cases in one week

Houston, Texas – Federal prosecutors in South Texas announced another major wave of immigration and border security-related criminal cases this week, revealing hundreds of arrests and charges tied to illegal entry, human smuggling, repeat immigration offenses, and violent criminal histories.

Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck said the Southern District of Texas filed 271 new criminal cases between May 15 and May 21 connected to immigration enforcement operations across the region.

According to federal officials, 249 illegal aliens were charged with unlawfully being inside the United States.

Among those cases, prosecutors said 67 defendants face illegal entry charges, while another 182 individuals were charged with illegal reentry after prior removals from the country.

Authorities stated many of the defendants have previous convictions tied to narcotics crimes, violent offenses, immigration violations, and other criminal activity.

Federal officials also announced 19 new human smuggling cases during the same period.

Truck Driver Accused of Smuggling 42 Illegal Aliens

One of the most serious allegations involved an out-of-state truck driver accused of attempting to smuggle 42 illegal aliens inside a sealed trailer under dangerous conditions.

According to charging documents, Juan Nasario-Reyes arrived at a Border Patrol checkpoint on May 16 and allegedly claimed his commercial vehicle was empty.

However, prosecutors said a K-9 unit alerted authorities to suspicious activity.

Law enforcement officers eventually discovered four illegal aliens hidden inside the cab of the truck along with another 38 individuals locked inside the trailer.

Authorities alleged the trailer had been latched shut from the outside while temperatures inside reached approximately 92.5 degrees.

Federal prosecutors said 13 of the illegal aliens involved in the case are also facing illegal entry or illegal reentry charges. Officials expect the remaining individuals to be removed from the country immediately.

Repeat Immigration Offenders Arrested Again

Federal authorities also detailed several additional cases involving previously deported individuals allegedly found back inside the United States.

One complaint involved Santos Rivera-Garcia, who prosecutors said previously received a 63-month federal prison sentence in 2022 for felony illegal reentry.

According to the complaint, authorities removed Rivera-Garcia from the country on April 24 of this year. Prosecutors now allege law enforcement discovered him again near Mission less than one month later.

Two other defendants, Faustino Soto and Genaro Perez-Alonso, were allegedly found near Escobares and Mission, respectively.

Federal officials said both men had prior narcotics convictions and had previously received prison sentences of at least 10 years before being deported.

If convicted, prosecutors said the defendants could face up to 20 years in federal prison.

Juries Quickly Convict Defendants in Separate Trials

Federal prosecutors also announced guilty verdicts in two separate immigration-related trials this week.

In Houston, a federal jury reportedly needed less than 30 minutes to convict Mexican national Eduardo Aguilera-Gallardo.

Authorities said Aguilera-Gallardo claimed he had been kidnapped and forced to return to the United States after deportation.

However, prosecutors told jurors that deportation officers had personally escorted him across the international border in Laredo after his removal order.

Testimony also showed neither Aguilera-Gallardo nor his family reported the alleged kidnapping to authorities in either country.

In Corpus Christi, another federal jury reportedly took less than 10 minutes to convict Jose Leandro Juarez-Rivas, an illegal alien from Mexico.

Authorities said Juarez-Rivas was identified aboard a commercial bus on Feb. 18 without legal authorization to remain in the United States.

Defense attorneys attempted to argue that Juarez-Rivas did not understand he had previously been ordered removed or barred from returning, but the jury rejected those claims.

Federal Agencies Continue Border Enforcement Efforts

In another Houston case, Jose Angel Martinez Menjivar, an illegal alien from El Salvador, received a 40-month federal prison sentence for illegal reentry.

Federal prosecutors said Menjivar had previous convictions involving illegal reentry and indecent assault by touching.

Authorities said he was first removed from the United States in 2022 before later being discovered again in Houston on July 9, 2025.

The investigations involved multiple federal agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, the DEA, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Officials said the cases are tied to Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative targeting illegal immigration, cartels, human smuggling organizations, and violent criminal offenders.

Federal prosecutors emphasized that border security and public safety remain top priorities for the Southern District of Texas, which covers 43 counties and serves more than 10 million residents across approximately 44,000 square miles.