Authorities in Texas ramp up immigration-related prosecutions with 240 new criminal cases in one week

San Antonio, Texas – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas has significantly ramped up immigration-related prosecutions, filing 240 new cases between March 3 and March 7. This represents a sharp rise from the 153 cases filed the previous week. Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman announced that most of these cases involve illegal re-entry, human smuggling, and other immigration violations, reflecting the government’s intensified efforts to curb unlawful crossings and related crimes.

Sharp Increase in Immigration Offenses

Among the 240 defendants, more than 160 individuals are charged with illegally re-entering the country—many of whom have prior felony convictions related to narcotics, violent crimes, and previous immigration offenses. More than 60 people face charges of illegally entering the U.S., while six cases involve human smuggling.

The Western District of Texas, which includes major cities like San Antonio, Austin, and El Paso, covers a vast 93,000 square miles and shares 660 miles of border with Mexico. This region has seen a steady increase in illegal crossings, prompting federal authorities to escalate enforcement efforts.

Repeat Offenders Among Those Arrested

Several high-profile arrests highlight the scope of the operation:

• Clemente Galvez-Alapisco, a Mexican national, was arrested in El Paso and charged with illegal re-entry. He had been deported twice before, most recently in June 2022 after being convicted of indecency with a child. He had also been convicted of illegal re-entry in 2019 and sentenced to five months and 11 days in prison. If convicted again, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

• Salvador Arellano-Quintero, another Mexican national, was discovered 1.5 miles west of the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry. He had been previously deported six times, most recently in January 2015 through Calexico, California. His extensive criminal record includes convictions for domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon, and sex with a minor under 16.

• David Alexis Herrera-Ramirez, also from Mexico, was arrested for allegedly leading a group of individuals over the border fence in San Elizario. Authorities claim he used WhatsApp to coordinate pickups and transportation for illegal entrants. He now faces one count of bringing in and harboring illegal aliens.

• Pedro Ruiz-Cisneros was apprehended in San Antonio by the U.S. Marshal Service Fugitive Task Force. He had been previously removed from the country five times as an aggravated felon, dating back to April 1994. His criminal record includes robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and three prior illegal re-entry convictions, leading to 133 months in federal prison between 2007 and 2016.

• Jaime Aguilar-Guerrero was arrested for public intoxication in Belton on March 3. Immigration records revealed that he was a Mexican national previously removed in 2016. He had also been convicted in 1996 for intoxication manslaughter, receiving a seven-year prison sentence. He is now facing up to 10 years in federal prison for illegal re-entry.

• Miguel Diego-Mateo, another Mexican national, was arrested near Dryden on March 6. He had been deported six times and had prior DUI convictions in addition to two illegal re-entry convictions.

Law Enforcement Agencies Collaborate to Strengthen Border Security

These cases were the result of joint efforts by multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Agencies involved in the investigation and arrests included:

• Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO)
• 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)

Part of a Nationwide Effort to Combat Illegal Immigration

These arrests and prosecutions are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at curbing illegal immigration, dismantling transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and eliminating drug cartels. The program also aligns with the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) to target criminal networks operating within U.S. borders.