Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California have filed 81 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 Southern District of California is one of the busiest federal districts due to its high volume of border-related crimes. This district covers San Diego and Imperial counties and shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, which is the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego and Tijuana.
In addition to reactive border-related crimes, this district also handles cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking, and national security.
A few notable arrests from this week include:
– On June 28, Wilmar Morales Ramirez was arrested at Camp Pendleton’s San Onofre gate and charged with being a Deported Alien Found in the United States. He had been deported to Mexico in December 2024.
– On June 29, Almida Ayala Torres was arrested at the San Ysidro Port of Entry for Importation of a Controlled Substance. Customs officers found 113 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in her vehicle.
– On June 30, Daniel Yanez Arriaga was arrested at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry for Importation of a Controlled Substance after officers found five pounds of fentanyl on his body.
– On July 2, Fernando Ojeda Martinez was arrested at the San Ysidro Port of Entry for Importation of a Controlled Substance when officers discovered 221 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in his car.
Several defendants with criminal records were also convicted or sentenced for border-related crimes:
– Anderson Fabricio Leon-Chirinos was found guilty by a jury on July 1 for Attempted Re-entry as a Removed Alien. Sentencing is scheduled for September 29, 2025.
– Juan Carlos Ojeda-Saldana received a sentence on July 2 to serve 70 months in custody for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.
– Ana Maria Rosas-Ortega was sentenced on July 2 to serve 46 months in custody for attempting illegal reentry into the United States.
Federal law enforcement has prioritized immigration prosecutions under Operation Take Back America. This initiative focuses on undocumented aliens involved in criminal activities such as drug and firearms offenses. Federal authorities are also prioritizing investigations against smugglers who threaten community safety.
These immigration cases were supported by federal law enforcement partners 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 (USBP), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with state and local law enforcement agencies.
It should be noted that indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
