A total of 318 cases connected to immigration and border security were filed in the Southern District of Texas between November 14 and November 20, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Of those charged, 182 individuals face allegations of illegally reentering the United States. Most have prior felony convictions, including offenses related to narcotics, violent crime, sexual offenses, previous immigration violations, or other crimes. Another 120 people are accused of illegal entry into the country, while 18 are alleged to have participated in human smuggling.
One case involves Mexican national Jairo Amaya Martinez, who is charged with assaulting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. The criminal complaint states that Martinez was driving a white Chevrolet van and attempted to flee on foot when law enforcement approached for a traffic stop. According to court documents, Martinez allegedly bit an agent on his left hand and forearm as another officer tried to subdue him. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in federal prison.
Mexican nationals Evencio Arellano-Felix and Ivan Garcia-Mendoza are also facing charges for illegal reentry after being previously removed from the United States on October 18 and October 21, respectively. Law enforcement reportedly encountered both men in Roma. Garcia-Mendoza has a prior conviction for illegal reentry, while Arellano-Felix was previously convicted of failure to identify with fugitive intent.
Another individual charged with illegal reentry is Juan Humberto Martinez-Martinez, a Mexican national who was removed from the United States on August 10, 2022. Authorities say they encountered him again near Rio Grande City this week. If convicted, these three individuals each face up to 20 years in federal prison.
Federal law enforcement agencies involved in referring or supporting these cases include ICE – Homeland Security Investigations, ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional support from state and local partners.
These prosecutions fall under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations by leveraging resources from multiple Department of Justice programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
The Southern District’s leadership stated that public safety and border security remain their top priorities. Increased enforcement efforts at both the border and within the district have led to arrests of individuals engaged in unlawful activity or those with serious criminal records—including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault, and violence against children.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas is one of the busiest offices nationally. It covers 43 counties across more than nine million residents within a territory spanning 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys work out of seven divisions—Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen, and Laredo—and collaborate closely with law enforcement at all levels.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei emphasized: “Under current leadership public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district.”
Authorities noted that indictments or criminal complaints represent formal accusations rather than evidence; all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty through due process.
