Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 94 border-related cases this week. The charges include assault on a federal officer, bringing in undocumented individuals for financial gain, reentering the United States after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.
The Southern District of California is among the busiest federal districts in the country, primarily due to its high volume of border-related crimes. The district covers San Diego and Imperial counties and shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, recognized as the world’s busiest land border crossing and connecting San Diego and Tijuana.
In addition to responding to border-related offenses, prosecutors in this district also pursue cases involving terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking, and national security.
Among recent arrests:
On November 17, Yuvitza Ordonez-Martinez and Alexa Garcia-Valenzuela were arrested at the Interstate 8 Border Patrol Checkpoint in Pine Valley, California. Both are U.S. citizens charged with importation of a controlled substance. A K9 Border Patrol Agent alerted officers to possible smuggling activity. Agents found 23 bundles containing a white crystalline substance weighing a total of 71.80 kilograms during their search.
On November 18, Viviana Serrano was arrested at the Tecate Port of Entry for bringing an undocumented individual into the United States for financial gain. Customs officers found one adult male and one minor concealed in her vehicle’s trunk; both were Mexican citizens without legal status. Serrano admitted she knew about the smuggling attempt and expected to receive $2,000 for her services.
On November 19, Abraham Francisco Lopez Guitimea was arrested after being intercepted by the U.S. Border Patrol Marine Unit while operating a vessel carrying 16 non-U.S. citizens. Lopez stated he would earn $1,000 per person successfully smuggled into the United States.
Recent convictions also include Ahumada Alcaraz—a Mexican national previously deported 16 times—who was convicted on November 18 for attempted reentry after removal. Mikah Alexandria Doty was sentenced on November 19 to twelve months in custody for knowingly transporting undocumented individuals within the United States.
Federal law enforcement has focused immigration prosecutions on undocumented individuals engaged in criminal activity or with serious criminal records under Operation Take Back America priorities. Authorities have also prioritized investigations against those involved in drug or human smuggling and crimes that endanger community safety or law enforcement personnel.
These cases were referred or supported by multiple 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, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), as well as state and local partners.
“Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law,” according to officials from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.
