1,200 Criminal Immigration Cases Charged in Past Week Along Southwest Border

United States Attorneys stationed along the U.S./Mexico border charged 1,238 people with immigration-related criminal offenses during the past week. Most of the criminal cases involved illegal aliens charged with unlawful entry, while some cases involved U.S. citizens and legal residents who allegedly engaged in Alien Smuggling.

During the week ending May 30, the Department of Justice filed criminal cases in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. The most significant number of cases were filed in the Western District of Texas, where more than 400 were presented before federal judges in the district.

Although the federal cases involved immigration related cases, several defendants were found to have committed other serious criminal violations in the past. CBP officers arrested Mexican national Sabino Renteria-Alvarado on May 28 at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry after he attempted to enter through the pedestrian entrance and allegedly presented the Customs and Border Protection officer with a false claim of Legal Permanent Resident status.

After further investigation, agents determined Renteria-Alvarado had been previously removed in 2024 through Nogales, Arizona. His criminal record included a 15-year prison sentence for a sexual assault of a minor conviction in 2017. Renteria-Alvarado is currently being charged with illegal re-entry — a felony under U.S. Immigration law.

{snip}