Federal prosecutors in the Western District of Texas announce over 200 immigration related charges in a single week

San Antonio, Texas – In a sweeping enforcement action highlighting the growing number of immigration and immigration-related crimes, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas announced the filing of 208 new federal cases between June 27 and July 2. United States Attorney Justin R. Simmons confirmed the charges span across multiple jurisdictions in the district and target both repeat immigration offenders and those involved in serious criminal activity.

The cases include multiple illegal re-entry prosecutions, drug trafficking, child sexual assault, and alien smuggling schemes. Several of the individuals charged have prior felony convictions or have been previously removed from the country multiple times.

Repeat Offenders and Serious Criminal Records

Among those charged is Erik Garcia-Rodriguez, also known as Eduardo Soto-Garcia and Gerardo Reyes, a Mexican national with a 2011 conviction in Dallas County for trafficking cocaine and heroin. After being deported in December 2011, Garcia-Rodriguez was encountered by Texas Department of Public Safety officers in San Antonio. An ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officer confirmed his illegal status and prior removal. He now faces new federal charges for illegal re-entry.

Another notable case involves Ismael Nieto Balverde, who was charged in Austin with possession with intent to distribute heroin. A Drug Enforcement Administration investigation led to two controlled purchases from Balverde totaling more than 2,000 grams of heroin.

In Ector County, Roberto Adan Gandara-Ramirez, a Mexican national previously removed in 2015, was arrested on a warrant for the alleged sexual assault of a child. He was released into ICE custody following his arrest by county deputies.

Smuggling Schemes and False Identity Use

On June 29, Daniel Hernandez of Asherton was caught near Carrizo Springs for conspiring to transport an illegal alien further into the U.S. He was stopped by the Dimmit County Sheriff’s Office, which then called U.S. Border Patrol. Inside the vehicle were two U.S. citizens and one undocumented Mexican national. Hernandez, who has a 2014 conviction for alien smuggling, allegedly told agents he had been instructed by a facilitator to pick up the alien.

Federal charges were also brought against Eduardo Lopez-Castillo, who was arrested near Fort Hancock. The convicted felon has been deported three times and was most recently convicted of illegal re-entry in April 2024.

In another incident, Alfonso Lopez-Castro attempted to enter the U.S. at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry using someone else’s New Mexico driver’s license. He told officials he was a U.S. citizen going home, but later admitted the ID was not his. Lopez-Castro has been removed six times previously.

Border Surveillance and Arrests Continue

In El Paso, Isaac Nolasco-Ramirez, a Mexican national, was arrested after he and three undocumented immigrants were found hiding under brush near the Tornillo Port of Entry. He allegedly told agents he used a rope ladder to cross the border and had instructions to guide the group to a pickup location.

Two U.S. citizens, Diego Mota and Isaac Steven Hernandez, were arrested after two undocumented individuals were seen scaling the international fence. One of the immigrants used a phone to communicate with the smugglers via WhatsApp. Law enforcement arrested Mota when he arrived in a Jeep and later captured Hernandez after a foot chase. Hernandez allegedly admitted to participating in smuggling eight times prior.

Additional Repeat Entrants and Criminal Histories

Hector Antonio Ostorga Hernandez, a Salvadoran national with two prior deportations, was charged in Eagle Pass for illegal re-entry. His most recent removal occurred in December 2024 after serving a sentence for domestic assault in Houston.

Also in Eagle Pass, Jose Ignacio Lopez-Ortiz, a Mexican national, was charged with illegal re-entry. He was previously deported in 2013 and has two DWI convictions from 2023 and 2025.

Juan Enrique Landeros-Gonzalez was arrested in Del Rio after being removed for the sixth time just two weeks earlier. He has multiple convictions for crimes including criminal mischief and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

U.S. Border Patrol agents in Eagle Pass also apprehended Joel Escobar-Chavez and Donaldo Robles-Zarate, both Mexican nationals with six prior deportations each. Byron Antonio Almazan, a Guatemalan national, was also arrested after being removed five times. He served 189 days for illegal re-entry in December 2024.

These latest charges underscore the Justice Department’s ongoing focus on prosecuting individuals with repeated immigration violations, serious criminal backgrounds, and those involved in organized smuggling activities.