Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California have filed 90 border-related cases this week. The charges include bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importing controlled substances.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is one of the busiest federal districts due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district includes San Diego and Imperial counties, sharing a 140-mile border with Mexico. It houses the San Ysidro Port of Entry, known as the world’s busiest land border crossing.
In addition to handling reactive border-related crimes, this district also prosecutes significant numbers of proactive cases involving terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking, and national security.
Among the arrests this week:
– On June 20, Jose Natalio Flores Avila was arrested at the San Ysidro Port of Entry with 103 pounds of methamphetamine and 2.5 pounds of heroin concealed in various parts of his vehicle.
– On June 22, Jason Miguel Byrd-Gallegos and Jose Ricardo Ayala were arrested on charges related to bringing in aliens for financial gain after their boat was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard off Point Loma.
– On June 23, Fernando Carillo Ramos was found hiding near the U.S.-Mexico border after previously being deported in December 2024.
Additionally, Omar Esteban Garcia-Rodriguez received an 18-month sentence for illegally reentering the U.S., having been previously convicted for assault with a deadly weapon in 2020.
The Department’s Operation Take Back America prioritizes immigration prosecutions focusing on undocumented aliens engaged in criminal activities within the U.S., including drug and firearms crimes or those with serious criminal records. Federal authorities are also targeting drug smugglers and others who pose threats to community safety.
These cases have been referred or supported by various federal law enforcement partners such as Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), among others.
It is important to note that indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
