Concertina Wire: New Mexico Weekly Immigration and Border Crimes Report

ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics for this week. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies.

In the two-week period ending December 19, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico:

• 96 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326)
• 6 individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324)
• 112 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325)
• 54 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), violation of a military security regulation (50 U.S.C. 797) and Entering Military, Naval, or Coast Guard Property (18 U.S.C. 1382), arising from the newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico.

Many of the defendants charged pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for rape, abduction, drug trafficking, DUI, aggravated assault, and battery.

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In one significant case, eleven alleged members of the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua were indicted this week on RICO charges as part of a coordinated DOJ operation across five federal districts.

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.

These statistics represent prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process.

Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.

The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Albuquerque and Las Cruces work directly with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.

Historic Border Security Milestone: Largest C-wire Delivery, Emplacement in U.S. Territorial History in Partnership with CBP

Story by Master Sgt. Anthony Hewitt

FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz.—In close coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), the Joint Task Force-Southern Border (JTF-SB) is conducting the largest Concertina wire (C-wire) emplacement in U.S. territorial history.   This operation began at the direction of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Northern Command, supporting the U.S. Border Patrol in the ongoing mission to secure the Southern Border, deter unlawful crossings and safeguard American communities. Between late October and November 2025, 43,000 rolls of C-wire were delivered and staged across all nine CBP sectors spanning the Southern Border. Border Patrol identified key areas where the C-wire is most needed to deter illegal movement across the U.S.-Mexico border. “This monumental effort is yet another key step in our enduring commitment to national security,” said Chief Blaine Bennett, Deputy Commander for CBP, JTF-SB. “The historic speed, scale, and coordination of this effort reflect the dedication of the interagency approach to this issue.” JTF-SB service members and CBP personnel will continue to strategically emplace the C-wire.   Helicopters from the 10th Mountain Combat Aviation Brigade continue assisting the operation by delivering these materials into areas impassable for vehicles. “The JTF-Southern Border’s operations and partnership with U.S. Border Patrol are laser-focused on achieving all-domain control of our border,” said Brig. Gen. Jeremy Winters, JTF-SB Deputy Commander for Operations.“Activities like reinforcing the border barriers and emplacing obstacles in areas without a border wall demonstrate our tireless commitment to this mission and support for federal agency partners.” The result will eventually be fortified stretches of C-wire spanning hundreds of miles along critical areas —setting a record for the largest such emplacement on U.S. territory.