The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas announced on April 3 that a record number of cases were filed from March 27 to April 2 as part of Operation Take Back America, with 511 individuals charged in connection with immigration and related offenses.
This surge represents the highest weekly total since the initiative began, highlighting ongoing efforts to address illegal entry, human smuggling, and other federal crimes along the South Texas border. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Of those charged during this period, authorities filed criminal complaints against 31 people for human smuggling and another 200 for illegal entry into the United States. An additional 274 individuals face felony reentry charges after previous removal; many have prior felony convictions involving narcotics, violent crime, or immigration offenses. Other cases include firearms violations and other immigration-related crimes.
Specific cases detailed by prosecutors include Roberto Efrain Portillo-Funes and Jani Manuel Pereda-Figueredo, both previously removed from the country in November 2025 but allegedly found without authorization in McAllen. Jose Garza Lopez was reportedly discovered near Bonito after a prior removal in June 2023; he has past convictions for transporting aliens and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Fernando Perales-Hernandez and Luis Miguel Zagaon-Melchor are also facing new charges following previous removals; both have prior convictions related to controlled substances or harboring aliens. All five men could face up to twenty years in prison if convicted.
In addition to these filings, Mario Trevino received a sentence of thirty-three months for transporting six undocumented individuals concealed within his tractor-trailer at a Border Patrol checkpoint near Sarita.
Federal agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives as well as state and local partners contributed to these cases.
Operation Take Back America is described as “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.” According to Marck: “Under current leadership public safety and a secure border are top priorities for this district.” He added that enhanced enforcement efforts have targeted individuals engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories including human trafficking or violence against children.
The Southern District covers forty-three counties over more than forty-four thousand square miles with offices located in Houston Galveston Corpus Christi Laredo McAllen Brownsville Victoria according to its official website. More than two hundred attorneys work across seven divisions prosecuting federal crimes as detailed by federal authorities.
The office is part of the Department of Justice under supervision by leaders such as Alamdar Hamdani (2022-2025) according to its history page.
Officials emphasized that indictments or complaints are formal accusations only; defendants remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty through due process.
