During a week of enforcement operations from July 5 to July 11, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona charged 147 individuals with immigration-related criminal conduct. The United States filed 71 cases against individuals who illegally re-entered the country and charged another 57 for illegal entry. Additionally, charges were brought against 19 individuals involved in smuggling illegal aliens within the District of Arizona.
These legal actions were supported by federal law enforcement partners 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), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Among recent notable cases:
In “United States v. Ismael Viera-Villa,” on July 7, Border Patrol Agents stopped a Dodge Ram truck after noticing suspicious behavior along State Route 83. Inside were seven individuals hiding under floor mats and backpacks, all citizens of Mexico and Guatemala illegally present in the U.S. Ismael Viera-Villa and Fausto Gil-Cruz were charged with Conspiracy to Transport an Illegal Alien for Profit.
In “United States v. Carlos Meza-Alcantar,” on July 7, agents observed suspicious vehicle activity linked to human smuggling operations at a residence. They later discovered 14 individuals hiding in a semi-truck trailer during an inspection at a Border Patrol checkpoint. The driver, Carlos Meza-Alcantar, was charged with Transportation of an Illegal Alien for Profit.
On July 8, HSI arrested Blademir Angulo Audeves as part of “United States v. Blademir Angulo Audeves.” Angulo was charged with Harboring an Illegal Alien, Knowingly Employing Unauthorized Aliens, Improper Entry by an Alien, and Alien in Possession of a Firearm after agents found he employed twelve unlawfully present aliens.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America aimed at addressing illegal immigration and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations through coordinated efforts from various Department of Justice initiatives.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
