During the week of December 20 to December 26, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona charged 143 individuals with immigration-related crimes. The office filed 105 cases involving illegal re-entry into the United States and charged 32 individuals with illegal entry. In addition, six people were charged with smuggling illegal aliens into or within Arizona.
Federal law enforcement agencies referred or supported these cases. These agencies include 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).
Recent cases highlighted by officials include:
United States v. Dimer Oseas Nolasco-Mendez; United States v. Santiago Jeronimo-Jeronimo: Both defendants were charged on December 24, 2025, with re-entry of a removed alien. According to complaints, Arizona Department of Public Safety Troopers stopped a vehicle near Eloy, Arizona for speeding and invalid registration. After requesting identification from passengers identified as Nolasco-Mendez and Jeronimo-Jeronimo, immigration checks showed both are citizens of Guatemala unlawfully present in the United States.
United States v. Edgar Valentin-Campos: Valentin-Campos was charged on December 22, 2025, with transportation of illegal aliens for profit. Agents observed his vehicle parked along a rural road near Sells, Arizona—a location known for picking up illegal aliens for further transport into the country. When agents approached to investigate further, Valentin-Campos attempted to flee but eventually crashed his vehicle outside Sells. He was arrested along with two Guatemalan nationals who were illegally present in the country.
Officials remind that a criminal complaint is only an accusation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
