During the week of January 10 to January 16, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona charged 136 individuals with immigration-related crimes. According to a statement from the office, there were 76 cases involving illegal re-entry into the United States and 39 cases concerning illegal entry. Additionally, federal prosecutors filed charges against 21 people in connection with 19 human smuggling cases.
Federal agencies involved in referring or supporting these cases included 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 case highlighted was United States v. Elias Alfonso Diaz-Martinez. On January 12, Diaz-Martinez was charged with Transportation of an Illegal Alien after being stopped by a Pinal County Sheriff’s deputy for speeding on I-10. The deputy observed signs that suggested human smuggling and later confirmed that both Diaz-Martinez, a Venezuelan citizen, and his passenger, a Mexican citizen, were unlawfully present in the country.
“A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law,” stated the release.
More information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona can be found at http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/.
