The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced on Mar. 13 that it brought immigration-related criminal charges against 197 individuals during enforcement operations conducted from Mar. 7 through Mar. 13, 2026.
The announcement highlights ongoing efforts to deter unlawful immigration in the region. Of those charged, the United States filed 132 cases involving illegal re-entry and charged another 59 individuals with illegal entry into the country. Additionally, six cases were filed against people accused of smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
Federal law enforcement agencies supported these cases, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, ICE Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Recent matters include United States v. Marcos Antonio Arguelles-Miranda. On Mar. 6, agents tracked three sets of footprints near Gila Bend, Arizona and found three individuals under a tree. The complaint alleges that Arguelles-Miranda was identified as a foot guide by two others in his group who also stated he had abandoned another person unable to continue walking. All three were confirmed to be citizens of Mexico unlawfully present in the United States.
In another case, United States v. Saul Rodriguez-Vazquez, Rodriguez-Vazquez was charged with transportation of illegal aliens for profit and placing lives in jeopardy after allegedly failing to yield to Border Patrol Agents during a pursuit on Mar. 10. According to authorities, a female passenger jumped from his moving vehicle after he told her “salta a la verga” when agents began their pursuit; she later admitted being illegally present in the country.
These prosecutions are part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aiming to combat illegal immigration and dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations by leveraging resources from Department of Justice programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Officials remind that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
