District of Arizona Charges 218 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week

PHOENIX, Ariz. - During the week of enforcement operations from August 30, 2025, through September 5, 2025, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 218 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 100 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 107 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed cases against 11 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Recent matters of interest include:

United States v. Jose Uriel Meraz-Aguilar: On September 3, 2025, Jose Uriel Meraz-Aguilar, 20, a citizen of Mexico, was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On September 1, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered Meraz-Aguilar south of Dateland, Arizona, after he entered the United States near Monument 179 with three other individuals. The group, wearing camouflage and carpet shoes, attempted to travel north through the desert toward Interstate 8, but became separated. Two members of the group were rescued and received medical treatment for dehydration and heat exhaustion. Agents learned that Meraz-Aguilar was being paid to serve as a foot guide for the Salazares Cartel, and that he had left the individuals behind in the desert on cartel instructions. [Case Number: 25-MJ-1860]

United States v. Edwuin Lucino Hernandez-Cordero: On September 4, 2025, Edwuin Lucino Hernandez-Cordero, a citizen of Mexico, was charged by criminal complaint with Conspiracy to Transport an Illegal Alien. Hernandez-Cordero had previously been pulled over in July 2025 while transporting five illegal aliens. Subsequent investigation linked Hernandez-Cordero to stash houses in Glendale and Phoenix run by a human smuggling organization. Hernandez-Cordero and his associates were identified as drivers and caretakers involved in transporting illegal aliens throughout the United States for profit. [Case Number: 25-MJ-6386]

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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-144_August September 5 Immigration Enforcement

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona, visit https://http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/Follow the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.