The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico released its weekly immigration enforcement statistics, detailing criminal charges brought in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, with support from various federal, state, and county agencies.
For the week ending August 29, 2025, authorities charged 42 individuals with illegal reentry after deportation under 8 U.S.C. 1326. Six people faced charges related to alien smuggling under 8 U.S.C. 1324. Additionally, 23 individuals were charged with illegal entry under 8 U.S.C. 1325.
A further 56 individuals were charged with illegal entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), violation of a military security regulation (50 U.S.C. 797), and entering military, naval, or Coast Guard property (18 U.S.C. 1382). These cases stemmed from incidents at the newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico.
Many defendants prosecuted for illegal reentry had prior convictions for drug trafficking and previous instances of illegal reentry.
These prosecutions are part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at countering illegal immigration and targeting cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
“These statistics represent prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process.”
According to leadership within the office: “Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.”
The District covers all 33 counties in New Mexico and includes a stretch of approximately 180 miles along the international border with Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys based in Albuquerque and Las Cruces coordinate closely with law enforcement partners on immigration-related cases as well as other federal offenses.
