A total of 294 cases related to immigration and border security were filed in the Southern District of Texas between December 5 and December 11, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Of those charged, 87 individuals face accusations of illegal entry into the United States, while another 182 are accused of felony reentry after removal. Many of those charged have previous felony convictions for offenses including narcotics, violent crime, and other immigration-related crimes. The week’s filings also include charges against 22 people for alleged human smuggling activities and two for assaults on federal officers.
Among the recent complaints, two Mexican nationals were charged with illegal reentry. Authorities state that Josadad De La Cruz-Perez was removed from the country in April but was found near Rio Grande City this week. Another case alleges that Jose Yuriel Tovias-Alvarez was discovered near McAllen; both men reportedly have prior felony convictions—De La Cruz-Perez for illegal reentry and Tovias-Alvarez for possession with intent to distribute large quantities of cocaine. If convicted on their new charges, each could face up to 20 years in federal prison.
In a separate sentencing, Juan De Dios Aguero, identified as the leader and organizer of an alien smuggling ring in Laredo, received a sentence of 57 months in federal prison. During his hearing, evidence showed Aguero recruited drivers and set abandoned vehicles on fire to distract law enforcement officials. On August 6, 2024, authorities at a Border Patrol checkpoint near Freer discovered 35 undocumented immigrants—including three unaccompanied minors—sealed inside a tractor-trailer with temperatures nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit; many suffered heat exhaustion. Investigators linked Aguero to organizing this event by transporting co-defendant Mateo Guerra to steal the tractor-trailer used in the operation and renting a U-Haul used to move individuals from a stash house. Authorities also connected him to two other failed smuggling attempts involving nearly 40 more undocumented immigrants.
Federal law enforcement agencies supporting these cases include Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with state and local partners.
“These cases are part of Operation Take Back America,” stated U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice 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.”
The office emphasized its current priorities: “Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district.” The statement noted that enhanced enforcement efforts have led to arrests involving individuals with serious criminal histories such as human trafficking or violence against children.
The Southern District of Texas is one of the busiest federal judicial districts in the country. It covers 43 counties stretching from Houston southward along the Mexican border—a region home to more than nine million people over approximately 44,000 square miles (source). The office employs more than 200 attorneys across divisions located in Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo (source).
The U.S. Attorney’s Office works closely with law enforcement partners at all levels—federal agencies like DEA or FBI as well as state or local authorities—to prosecute offenders (source). Its main functions include prosecuting federal crimes such as those described above and representing government interests in civil matters (source).
According to its official history page (source), Congress established this judicial district in 1902; since then it has had several notable leaders (source).
The office reminded readers: “An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.”
