Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California have filed over 100 border-related cases this week. The charges include transportation of illegal aliens, reentering the U.S. after deportation, being a deported alien found in the United States, and importation of controlled substances.
The Southern District of California ranks as the fourth-busiest federal district due to its high volume of border-related crimes. This district covers San Diego and Imperial counties and shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, noted as the world’s busiest land border crossing between San Diego and Tijuana.
Besides addressing reactive border-related crimes, this district also prosecutes numerous proactive cases involving terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking, and national security.
A sample of recent arrests highlights ongoing issues at the border:
- Mexican nationals Isay Edel Ramos-Chaparro and Omar Alvarado-Ignacio were arrested on March 4 by U.S. Border Patrol agents from El Centro. They face charges related to their alleged attempt to cross into the U.S. illegally on motorcycles through a breach in the Mexicali border fence.
- On March 6, Jason Kristopher Lowe was apprehended while attempting entry via the San Ysidro Port of Entry driving a BMW X5 with California plates. Two individuals from China without legal documents were discovered hidden inside a compartment under his vehicle.
- Fernando Medina Rodriguez, Gustavo Camacha Medina, and Carlos Cardenas Medina were detained on March 4 at Otay Mesa Port of Entry on drug importation charges after officials found about 171 pounds of cocaine concealed in their tractor-trailers.
Federal law enforcement is concentrating immigration prosecutions on undocumented aliens involved in criminal activities within the U.S., such as those committing drug or firearms offenses or having serious criminal records or active warrants. Investigations also focus on drug, firearm smuggling operations that threaten community safety.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement agencies like Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Border Patrol (USBP), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms Explosives (ATF) along with state local partners.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court proceedings.