America’s first line of defense: The Southern District of Texas delivers record results in inaugural year of Operation Take Back America

HOUSTON - A total of 13,964 cases have been filed in immigration and similar border security-related matters from Jan. 20 - Dec. 31, 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Of those charged, 6,404 people faced illegal entry charges, while another 6,574 were alleged to have entered the country illegally after having been previously removed. Many of these defendants had prior felony convictions involving narcotics, violent crimes and immigration offenses. An additional 889 people were accused of engaging in human smuggling crimes, while the remaining 264 faced border security-related charges of assaulting officers, firearms offenses, smuggling, violent crimes, narcotics trafficking and other matters.

Some of those facing new criminal charges this past year are a result of "Operation Pick-Off," an initiative created in the Southern District of Texas that targets criminal illegal aliens who are currently terms of probation following convictions for state crimes, such as drug offenses, human smuggling, fraud, burglary, assault and other violent crimes. The enforcement effort, originally announced Aug. 25, 2025, led to federal charges against 67 illegal aliens in the Rio Grande Valley area, 65 of whom had returned to the country after being previously removed, only to commit other crimes, according to the allegations. In a subsequent roundup in Laredo, law enforcement took another 28 into custody, including a convicted murderer.

"For those that want to come to this country without permission and then victimize American citizens once here, we are more than happy to accommodate them with a stay at a federal facility, followed by a one-way ticket home," said Ganjei. "This initiative is a win for public safety, but, as I said at the announcement of this initiative, the U.S. Attorney's Office is not going to rest until we bring Pick-Off to all 43 counties of the Southern District of Texas. If you're here illegally and have committed crimes in our communities, consider yourself warned. We are coming. This is what Operation Take Back America looks like."

Other notable cases allege involve attacks on or impeding law enforcement in the course of their duties. Two of those charged are Mexican nationals Juan Carmen Padron Mendez and Juan Carlos Padron Barron, who allegedly strangled a Border Patrol agent while en route to a Houston-area detention facility. Court documents allege Mendez wrapped his arm around the agent's neck as Barron grabbed the agent's belongings and fled on foot before authorities apprehended both men. In another assault chase, the United States charged 33-year-old El Salvadorian national Walter Leonel Perez Rodriguez, who allegedly threw a 32-ounce stainless steel mug filled with hot coffee on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, striking him in the face. The officer allegedly fell to the ground, lost consciousness and was treated for second-degree burns to his neck and arms and a laceration to his upper lip that required 18 stiches. Additionally, Mexican national Javier Cornelio Cruz-Nava, 36, allegedly assaulted a federal officer in Houston. According to the complaint, during immigration enforcement operations Oct. 1, 2025, authorities conducted a traffic stop of Cruz-Nava, who subsequently fled on foot. A Texas Department of Public Safety agent caught up to Cruz-Nava, who then allegedly lunged and threw the officer into a wrought-iron fence, causing two deep head wounds to the officer, according to the charges.

"These officers place their lives on the line every day to protect our communities and country, and they deserve to be protected in return," said Ganjei. "Anyone who attacks law enforcement is attacking the American system of justice, and those who choose violence over lawfulness will be met with swift charges. The Southern District of Texas has a zero-tolerance policy towards anyone who does so. The message is clear - comply with officer directives and keep your hands to yourself."

Many others have been charged with human smuggling, such as Texas resident Vicente Garcia Jr. and Jose Alexis Baeza-Combaluzier whose alleged crimes resulted in the deaths of two persons - one of whom was a 14-year-old child. The charges allege Garcia was to transfer one illegal alien to Baeza-Combaluzier who had four other illegal aliens in his vehicle. He departed the area with the passengers but eventually came to a stop due to a flooded road, according to the complaint. When authorities attempted to make an approach, he allegedly accelerated and drove through a flooded area and eventually drove into a canal. Law enforcement immediately began rescue operations, but two persons drowned, including the minor, according to the charges.

Other complaints filed in human smuggling matters detail instances of dangerous and life-threatening conditions of confinement, such as the one against Greibein Alexis Pinot-Duarte, a Honduran national who allegedly smuggled more than four dozen illegal aliens in a refrigerated tractor-trailer near Freer. According to the complaint, a further inspection of the 55-degree trailer led to the discovery of 51 illegal aliens concealed in a cramped compartment beneath boxes of produce. In a similar case in Laredo, Kenneth Gamboa allegedly drove a box truck hiding 40 illegal aliens to a Border Patrol checkpoint in Jim Hogg County. The investigation revealed a false wall in the storage area of the vehicle that had created a hidden compartment, according to the complaint. The charges allege the vehicle had multiple boards screwed shut to prevent the individuals from being able to get out on their own. Also charged is Brandon Lajohn Hargrove, Houston, and Jose Luis Castellanos-Hercules, an illegal alien from Honduras. They allegedly transported 55 illegal aliens in a hidden compartment in a produce trailer near San Ygnacio. According to the complaint, multiple heavy pallets blocked the access door and prevented the aliens from being able to leave on their own. Once authorities discovered them, the aliens had to crawl through a small door to get out from behind the false wall. Several of the illegal aliens in the cases are also facing charges of illegal entry or reentry.

Also among the notable cases brought as part of Operation Take Back America are charges against 16 foreign nationals illegally residing in Houston for drug trafficking and weapons allegations following an operation targeting Venezuelan nationals linked to the "Anti-Tren" criminal organization. Similar to the criminal activities members of Tren de Aragua have committed, Anti-Tren affiliates allegedly engaged in attempted murder, other acts of violence and threats of such. Some members have been charged with conspiring to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and various weapons crimes, with one allegedly being an alien in possession of ammunition.

"The Southern District's twin priorities are securing our border and the eradication of violent crime. This case implicates both," said Ganjei. "Operation Take Back America means going on the offensive against transnational criminal organizations to ensure that they cannot take root in our community and endanger public safety. SDTX is going to be unapologetic in carrying out that mission."

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

The 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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.

An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.