During a week-long enforcement operation from June 21 to June 27, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona charged 164 individuals with immigration-related criminal conduct. The charges include 84 cases of illegal re-entry into the United States and 71 cases of illegal entry. Additionally, nine individuals were charged with smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were supported by various federal law enforcement agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
One case involved Jesus Alfred Salazar-Ruiz, who was apprehended after attempting to evade Border Patrol agents in his vehicle. He was charged with Transportation of an Illegal Alien for Profit after agents found three passengers in his vehicle who were illegally in the United States.
In another incident, Miguel Angel Mezo-Antele was stopped on Interstate 40 in Yuma, Arizona while transporting four Mexican citizens without legal documentation. Mezo-Antele faced charges for Transportation of an Illegal Alien.
Dalesio Hernandez-Bautista was charged with Re-entry of a Removed Alien after being previously deported following a manslaughter conviction in Arizona.
The charges are part of Operation Take Back America, which aims to combat illegal immigration and dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
For further details on these operations or related matters, visit the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
