During a week-long enforcement operation from December 27, 2025, to January 2, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona filed immigration-related criminal charges against 135 individuals. The cases included 75 charges for illegal re-entry into the United States and 52 charges for illegal entry. Additionally, eight individuals were charged with smuggling people into or within Arizona.
Federal law enforcement agencies supported these efforts. Partners included 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 cases was United States v. Nolberto Erasmo Bojorquez-Chaparro. According to a complaint filed on December 29, 2025, a Border Patrol agent tracked footprints identified by an air unit to five people hiding in bushes near Phoenix. All five were Mexican citizens unlawfully present in the country and were found wearing camouflage clothing and carpet booties. Agents determined that Bojorquez-Chaparro was guiding them through the desert.
Another case involved Omar Luna-Silva, who was charged on January 1, 2026, with re-entry after removal from the United States. Luna-Silva had previously been deported on May 16, 2013 following a felony conviction for possession of dangerous drugs for sale in Maricopa County Superior Court.
“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 officials from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
For more information about ongoing actions by the District of Arizona’s U.S. Attorney’s Office or updates on similar enforcement operations, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/.
