Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California have filed over 90 border-related cases this week. The charges include transportation of illegal aliens, bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, deported alien found in the United States, and importation of controlled substances.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for this district is one of the busiest federal districts due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This area includes San Diego and Imperial counties and shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It features the San Ysidro Port of Entry, noted as the world’s busiest land border crossing between San Diego and Tijuana.
Apart from reactive border-related crimes, this district also prosecutes cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking, and national security.
Recent arrests highlight ongoing enforcement efforts:
Mexican nationals Eleazar Mozqueda Simental and Manuel Antonio Mozqueda Simental were arrested on March 20 for allegedly transporting 14 undocumented immigrants using a panga boat. The passengers were reportedly forced to wear trash bags during their journey across rough seas.
On March 17, Osvaldo Reyes-Virgen was arrested near Imperial Beach after being previously deported earlier that month. He was found hiding behind brush following observations of a jet ski traveling north.
Sarah Beth Schatz was arrested on March 17 for attempting to smuggle two Chinese citizens into the U.S. in her vehicle's trunk. The individuals admitted they lacked lawful documents and had agreed to pay substantial sums if successfully smuggled into the country.
Joshua Nicolas Sanchez Lopez was apprehended on March 15 at Otay Mesa Port of Entry with over 100 pounds of methamphetamine and other drugs hidden in his vehicle.
Baudelio Escalante-Orozco was arrested on March 16 while attempting to hide near the U.S./Mexico boundary line after being previously deported.
Federal law enforcement focuses immigration prosecutions on undocumented aliens involved in criminal activities such as drug or firearms offenses or those with serious criminal records or active warrants. Authorities prioritize investigations against smugglers who threaten community safety.
These immigration cases were referred by various federal agencies including 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' support.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.