In a major federal crackdown, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced that 147 individuals have been charged with immigration-related offenses during a weeklong sweep dubbed Operation Take Back America.
The initiative, which ran from last Saturday through Friday, resulted in 71 cases of illegal re-entry, 57 charges for illegal entry, and 19 cases involving alleged alien smuggling.
Backed by a coalition of federal agencies—including ICE ERO, HSI, U.S. Border Patrol, DEA, FBI, USMS, and ATF—the operation targeted a broad range of offenses. In one case, United States v. Ismael Viera-Villa, Border Patrol agents intercepted a vehicle attempting to flee, uncovering several hidden passengers. Viera-Villa and Fausto Gil-Cruz were charged with conspiracy to transport illegal aliens for profit.
In another high-profile incident, United States v. Carlos Meza-Alcantar, authorities intercepted a semi-truck carrying 14 individuals after surveillance operations. Meza-Alcantar was charged with transporting illegal aliens for financial gain.
A particularly serious case, United States v. Blademir Angulo Audeves, involved multiple charges including harboring undocumented immigrants and illegal firearm possession. A five-month investigation led to a raid that uncovered three firearms and revealed that Audeves employed and housed at least a dozen unauthorized individuals.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, these cases are part of a broader federal effort to combat illegal immigration, dismantle criminal cartels, and disrupt transnational criminal networks, all while enhancing public safety.
While the charges remain allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty, the scale and coordination of Operation Take Back America reflect a clear strategy by federal authorities to escalate enforcement against immigration-related crimes. The operation also integrates resources from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods to ensure a unified response.
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