An illegal alien, Elia Antonio, was convicted in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, of sex trafficking her own 12-year-old daughter. Antonio, who entered the country illegally, was found guilty of repeatedly selling her daughter for sex to adult men. The case drew widespread condemnation and highlights ongoing concerns about crimes committed by individuals in the country illegally.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has compiled a county-by-county breakdown of Wisconsin sheriffs' policies on immigration enforcement and cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The map and accompanying data show which sheriffs have signed 287(g) agreements with ICE, which comply with ICE detainer requests, and which have adopted sanctuary-style policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Hector Jared Toscana Perez, who caused a fatal accident in Dodge County, Wisconsin, was in the country illegally at the time of the crash. Toscana Perez, who had previously been deported, was driving under the influence when he caused a collision that killed a 30-year-old passenger. Authorities confirmed he had reentered the United States unlawfully prior to the deadly incident.
A 23-year-old Venezuelan national living in Las Cruces, New Mexico, pleaded guilty to illegal firearm possession and conspiracy to destroy evidence after posting photos and videos of himself with weapons on social media. The individual, identified as a suspected member of the Tren de Aragua criminal organization, was employed by a prominent local family at the time of his arrest. ICE's Homeland Security Investigations division coordinated with the FBI, ATF, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the investigation.
ICE Homeland Security Investigations arrested Jesus Luis Cuevas-Pacheco, 47, a Mexican national with a criminal history including child sexual abuse charges, narcotics trafficking, and domestic violence. On September 27, agents apprehended him in Vado, New Mexico, after he fled and barricaded himself in a residence while they attempted to serve a reentry-after-deportation warrant. Cuevas now faces additional criminal charges that could result in imprisonment and removal from the United States.
A 46-year-old previously convicted felon in Carlsbad, New Mexico, faces federal charges after agents discovered approximately 1,090 grams of methamphetamine and 56 grams of cocaine at his residence during a September 3 search warrant execution. Jason Cunningham is charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and faces 10 years to life in prison if convicted.
ICE arrested Leonel Arquimedes Bustamante-Sanchez, 27, a Tren de Aragua gang member and Venezuelan fugitive, on August 20 in Albuquerque following a traffic stop. Bustamante-Sanchez had an active warrant from Colombia for a seven-year sentence related to firearms trafficking and illegal possession. He was previously encountered by Border Patrol in 2023 and is now in ICE custody facing charges for illegal entry and pending additional criminal charges.
An Albuquerque couple — naturalized U.S. citizens Nan Zhang and Sanjay Khurana — have been indicted for conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens, money laundering, and unlawful financial transactions. Investigators allege they converted four rental properties into stash houses for human smuggling operations and laundered proceeds through a structured real estate deal over approximately two years. If convicted, both face up to 20 years in prison, loss of legal status, and property forfeiture.
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller signed an executive order on July 21, 2025, prohibiting city resources from being used to assist federal immigration enforcement unless legally required. The order requires city departments to report ICE activity at city facilities to the Mayor's office, prevents staff from aiding covert immigration operations, and demands officers identify themselves in public spaces. It also commits the city to identifying services — including housing, healthcare, and education assistance — for families affected by federal immigration actions.
For the week ending July 11, 2025, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico charged 57 individuals with Illegal Reentry After Deportation, 7 with Alien Smuggling, and 42 with Illegal Entry. A notable case that week involved Reymondo Maldonado, who was charged with possession with intent to distribute 166 kilograms of cocaine discovered in a hidden compartment in the floor of a tractor-trailer. These cases were prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America in partnership with the El Paso Sector of U.S. Border Patrol and HSI El Paso.
