During the week of November 15 to November 21, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona filed immigration-related criminal charges against 174 individuals. Of these cases, 102 involved illegal re-entry into the United States and 52 involved illegal entry. Federal prosecutors also charged 19 people in connection with smuggling activities, filing a total of 17 cases related to this conduct. One defendant was charged with assaulting a Border Patrol agent.
These 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, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
One notable case is United States v. Juan Francisco Gutierrez. On November 17, Gutierrez was charged with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit after being observed driving near the border and attempting to evade law enforcement for about 20 miles before being stopped by agents using a vehicle immobilization device. Nine individuals from El Salvador were apprehended from his vehicle; Gutierrez himself held a temporary work visa.
Another case is United States v. John Michael Sparks. On November 14, Sparks was charged with Transportation of an Illegal Alien after he was stopped at the Ajo Border Patrol Checkpoint on State Route 85. A passenger in his vehicle presented a Mexican voter registration card and was determined to be illegally present in the country.
In United States v. Eliver Gonzalez-Gomez on November 20, Gonzalez-Gomez faced charges for transporting an illegal alien after agents observed him driving a heavily loaded vehicle on Interstate Highway 17 Northbound. He attempted to flee both by car and on foot before being apprehended by authorities. Ten passengers were found in his car—including two unaccompanied minors—none wearing seatbelts; all but two were citizens of Mexico or Guatemala unlawfully present in the United States.
The office noted that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
