The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico has released its weekly report on immigration enforcement, detailing criminal charges brought in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, with support from other agencies.
For the week ending September 5, 2025, federal prosecutors charged 39 individuals with illegal reentry after deportation under 8 U.S.C. 1326. Four people faced charges of alien smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324). There were also 44 cases of illegal entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), and an additional 42 individuals were charged with illegal entry alongside violations related to military security regulations and entering restricted military property, stemming from incidents at a newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico.
According to the office, “Many of the defendants charged pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for drug trafficking.”
The prosecutions are part of Operation Take Back America, which is described as “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.”
The statistics reflect only those prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for New Mexico; they do not account for individuals processed through administrative channels by immigration authorities.
Leadership at the district emphasized ongoing efforts: “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 in New Mexico and includes approximately 180 miles along the international border with Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys based in Albuquerque and Las Cruces continue working with various law enforcement partners to prosecute these offenses.
