During the week of December 6 to December 12, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona charged 173 individuals with crimes related to immigration. Of these cases, 93 involved people accused of illegally re-entering the United States, and 73 were charged with illegal entry. Seven additional cases targeted individuals accused of smuggling people into or within Arizona.
The enforcement actions were supported by several federal agencies, including 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), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Among recent cases highlighted was United States v. Mario Alberto Herrera Jr., who was charged on December 11 with transportation of an illegal alien after a state trooper stopped his vehicle on I-10 Westbound for suspended registration. Authorities determined Herrera was paid to transport two passengers to Phoenix while he was already on probation for a prior conviction involving transportation of an illegal alien in federal court in Arizona. The two passengers were identified as citizens of Guatemala without legal status in the United States.
Another case noted was United States v. Miguel Hernandez-Cortez, who was charged on December 8 with re-entry after removal from the country. Hernandez-Cortez had previously been deported following a felony conviction for aggravated sexual assault in Texas in March 2015.
The office emphasized that criminal complaints are formal accusations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
