Federal Prosecutors File 307 Immigration Cases in Final Week of January

Charges include illegal entry, human smuggling, and drug trafficking

Jan. 30, 2026 at 4:31pm

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Federal prosecutors in South Texas filed 299 new immigration and border security cases in the final week of January, charging 169 people with felony reentry after removal and another 108 with illegal entry allegations. The cases also include 26 individuals accused of human smuggling and four others facing different charges.

Why it matters

This crackdown on illegal immigration and border crimes is part of a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to address these issues and protect communities from violent crime perpetrators. The high volume of cases filed in a single week highlights the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The details

The cases were filed as part of Operation Take Back America, a DOJ initiative targeting illegal immigration, cartels, and transnational criminal organizations. Multiple federal agencies, including ICE, Border Patrol, DEA, and FBI, worked together on the cases, which included charges for illegal reentry, human smuggling, and drug trafficking. Two Mexican nationals received significant federal prison sentences during this period for prior convictions and repeat illegal border crossings.

  • The cases were filed in the final week of January 2026 (January 23-29).
  • Javier Andres Rivera was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison.
  • Erik Villegas Cusi received a 51-month prison sentence.

The players

Nicholas J. Ganjei

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas.

Javier Andres Rivera

A Mexican national sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the country after prior convictions for aggravated robbery, drug possession, and other crimes.

Erik Villegas Cusi

A Mexican national sentenced to 51 months in prison for conspiring to smuggle fentanyl and cocaine into the U.S. with his family.

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What they’re saying

“Federal prosecutors in South Texas filed 299 new immigration and border security cases in the final week of January, charging 169 people with felony reentry after removal and another 108 with illegal entry allegations.”

— Nicholas J. Ganjei, U.S. Attorney

What’s next

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas will continue to work with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to prosecute additional immigration and border security cases as part of Operation Take Back America.

The takeaway

This crackdown on illegal immigration and border crimes highlights the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement along the U.S.-Mexico border, and the government's commitment to addressing these issues through enhanced enforcement and prosecution.