Federal authorities in South Texas file over 300 new cases as immigration enforcement intensifies across the region
Houston – U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced that 318 new federal cases were filed from January 9 to January 15 in connection with border and immigration violations. The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a sweeping federal initiative targeting illegal immigration, human smuggling, and transnational crime.
Charges Include Felony Reentry and Human Smuggling
Of the newly filed cases, 113 individuals face charges of illegal entry, while 180 others are charged with felony reentry after removal—a more serious offense often involving individuals with criminal backgrounds. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, many of the defendants already have prior felony convictions, including offenses related to drugs, violent crimes, and previous immigration violations.
An additional 24 individuals were charged with human smuggling, and two more face charges for other immigration-related crimes.
“Texas is under siege at the border, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to securing public safety by aggressively prosecuting those who enter unlawfully or endanger our communities through repeated criminal conduct,” officials emphasized.
Repeat Offenders Among Those Charged
Among those charged are Carlos Ricardo Lucio-Lucio and Fernando Soto-Guerrero, both Mexican nationals with prior felony convictions for transporting and harboring illegal aliens. Federal complaints allege that Lucio-Lucio reentered the U.S. less than six months after his most recent removal on August 1, 2025, while Soto-Guerrero reentered just weeks after being removed on December 29, 2025. Court records state that both men were discovered inside the United States without authorization and face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of felony reentry.
Another case involves Maclovio Esparza-Salas, also a Mexican national, who was found near Roma, Texas, and had previously been removed on October 11, 2024. He also has a prior conviction for possession of a weapon and could face the same maximum sentence.
Recent Sentencings for Illegal Reentry
In addition to the newly filed cases, Jose Castro Orellana, a Honduran national, was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after being previously removed. Court records reveal Orellana had earlier convictions for domestic violence, evading arrest, and illegal reentry, and had been deported in 2012, only to return unlawfully on multiple occasions.
Two Mexican nationals were also recently sentenced for illegal reentry. Gabriel Rodriguez-Martinez was given a 60-month prison term, while Jose de Jesus Galicia-Castillo received a 41-month sentence. Both men had previous felony convictions for illegal reentry, demonstrating a pattern of repeated unlawful return.
Part of Operation Take Back America
These prosecutions are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide campaign launched by the Department of Justice. The operation aims 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.”
Authorities say that the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest districts in the country, representing 43 counties and over nine million residents across a 44,000-square-mile area. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions—Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen, and Laredo—work closely with federal, state, and local agencies to prosecute offenders.
This latest wave of charges highlights the ongoing federal commitment to protecting border communities, cracking down on repeat offenders, and ensuring that those with serious criminal backgrounds are held accountable under the law.
