The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico has released its weekly statistics on immigration-related prosecutions, detailing enforcement actions taken in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, with support from additional federal, state, and county agencies.
For the week ending August 22, 2025, prosecutors charged 65 individuals with illegal reentry after deportation under 8 U.S.C. 1326. Six people were charged with alien smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324), while another 34 faced charges of illegal entry (8 U.S.C. 1325). Additionally, 32 individuals were charged with both illegal entry and violations related to military security regulations and entering restricted property at a newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico.
Many defendants facing prosecution for illegal reentry had prior convictions for crimes such as involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, fraud, or previous incidents of illegal reentry.
One notable case involved Luis Carlos Martinez-Moje, a Mexican national who was charged by criminal complaint for being an alien in possession of ammunition. Law enforcement discovered approximately 13,980 rounds of ammunition hidden in his vehicle during a traffic stop in Doña Ana County. According to authorities, Martinez-Moje admitted he traveled to Albuquerque to collect the ammunition at the request of an acquaintance from Chihuahua, Mexico in exchange for payment.
“These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.”
Officials clarified that these figures reflect only those prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico and do not include individuals handled through administrative processes by immigration enforcement agencies.
“Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.”
The District covers all 33 counties within New Mexico and shares roughly 180 miles along its international border with Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys based in Albuquerque and Las Cruces work closely with law enforcement partners at multiple levels to prosecute offenses connected to immigration and other federal crimes.
