PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from Mar. 7 through Mar. 13, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 197 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 132 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 59 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 6 cases against individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S.
Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).Recent matters of interest include:United States v. Marcos Antonio Arguelles-Miranda. On Mar. 6, 2026, Marcos Antonio Arguelles Miranda was charged by criminal complaint with Bringing in Illegal Aliens.
According to the complaint, Horse Patrol Unit (HPU) agents were called that day to assist Field Training Units in tracking three sets of footprints near Gila Bend, Arizona. HPU agents ultimately located three individuals, including Arguelles-Miranda, under a tree. The two other individuals in the group identified Arguelles-Miranda as their foot guide and stated that Arguelles-Miranda had abandoned another illegal alien traveling with them because he could no longer walk. Immigration checks confirmed that all three subjects are citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-3083]United States v.
Saul Rodriguez-Vazquez. Saul Rodriguez-Vazquez was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit, Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person. On Mar. 10, 2026, Border Patrol Agents (BPAs) attempted to stop a driver suspected of alien smuggling. The driver, Rodriguez-Vazquez, failed to yield to BPAs and a pursuit ensued.
At one point, someone opened the passenger side door and a female subject jumped from the moving vehicle. Several BPAs disengaged from the vehicle pursuit to apprehend her while other BPAs continued to pursue the vehicle. Agents finally arrested Rodriguez-Vazquez after a vehicle immobilization device was deployed as he drove through an immigration checkpoint. In an interview with the female subject who had jumped from Rodriguez-Vazquez’s vehicle, she admitted to being a citizen of Guatemala, illegally present in the United States.
She stated that when BPAs started chasing Rodriguez-Vazquez, he told her to jump out. She refused because the vehicle was still moving, but he argued with her and became aggressive. Rodriguez-Vazquez told her, "salta a la verga," so when the vehicle slowed down, she jumped out even though it was still moving. [Case Number: 26-MJ-5900]These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-048_March 13, 2026 Immigration Enforcement# # #For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.