A series of charges have been filed in the Southern District of Texas, targeting immigration and border security issues as part of Operation Take Back America. U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced that from June 27 to July 2, a total of 95 cases were initiated, with 62 individuals accused of illegal entry into the United States and another 26 facing felony reentry charges after prior removal.
Many charged individuals have previous felonies related to narcotics, violent crime, and immigration offenses. Additional cases involve human smuggling, drug trafficking, and firearms violations. Among these are allegations against 16 foreign nationals residing illegally in Houston for drug trafficking and weapons offenses linked to the Anti-Tren criminal organization.
“The Southern District’s twin priorities are securing our border and the eradication of violent crime,” stated Ganjei. “Operation Take Back America means going on the offensive against transnational criminal organizations to ensure that they cannot take root in our community and endanger public safety.”
Recent complaints include illegal reentry by several Mexican nationals who had been previously removed from the country. Notable among them is Cesar Alejandro Tovar-Guillen, a convicted cocaine distributor found unlawfully near Alton after his March removal. Others like Osvaldo Aguilar-Aguilar and Jose Alejandro Dominguez-Guzman also face charges following past convictions for illegal reentry.
In McAllen, Margarito Llanes received a sentence of 52 months for alien smuggling after leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase resulting in injuries to eight passengers.
Two other Mexican nationals received sentences for illegal reentry: Luis Ernesto Hernandez-Doria was sentenced to 51 months, while Jose Angel Lopez-Herrera received a 46-month term. Hernandez-Doria’s sentence was influenced by his multiple prior felony convictions.
These legal actions are supported by federal law enforcement agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), 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.
Operation Take Back America is an initiative aimed at addressing illegal immigration and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations while safeguarding communities from violent crime perpetrators.
The Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest jurisdictions nationwide. It covers 43 counties over more than nine million people across 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys work closely with various law enforcement agencies to prosecute federal crimes effectively.
An indictment or criminal complaint serves as a formal accusation but does not constitute evidence; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty through due process.
