The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 257 individuals during the week of May 24 through May 30, 2025, including 125 cases of illegal re-entry and 124 instances of unauthorized entry, as part of Operation Take Back America.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed Gerardo Nava-Benitez, a 30-year-old Mexican national and member of the Noroeste cartel, transporting him from the Florence Detention Center to the Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Iranian national Mehrzad Asadi Eidivand, 40, of Tempe, Arizona, for alien in possession of a firearm, and against his wife, Linet Vartaniann, 37, for threatening to assault a federal officer during an ICE operation.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed Edgar Damian Sandoval-Albarran, also known as 'La Rana,' a 39-year-old Mexican fugitive wanted in Mexico for organized crime and forced disappearance of persons.
Julio Cesar Aguirre, 42, a Mexican national illegally present in the United States, was charged after shooting and killing a 69-year-old man during an attempted carjacking in Tucson, Arizona. Aguirre had been arrested more than 10 times for immigration-related crimes between 2007 and 2013.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 147 individuals during the week of enforcement operations from July 5 through July 11, 2025, as part of Operation Take Back America.
Antonio Cruz, 36, of Mexico, was arrested and charged for distribution of a controlled substance after selling over 1,000 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover agent in Arizona.
Blademir Angulo Audeves, 42, of Mexico, was arrested and charged for harboring illegal aliens, knowingly employing unauthorized aliens, improper entry, and alien in possession of a firearm after an investigation revealed at least 12 illegal aliens working at his taco restaurants in the Phoenix area.
A federal grand jury indicted two alleged smugglers, Oscar Tapia Castro and Roney Ulicer Lara Galdamez, accused of ramming a pickup truck against U.S. Border Patrol vehicles during a pursuit in southern Arizona, charging them with conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and assault on a federal officer.
Residents are urging Mesa City Council to terminate the Police Department's partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement through the 287(g) program, which allows local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws.
