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.
Source: Department of Justice
Photo: Courtesy US Border Patrol El Paso Sector (via Facebook)
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.
Continuing the mission alongside Mexican counterparts in mirror-like fashion. This strengthens our border security by strengthening relationships with our partners to ensure ZERO illegal entries into the U.S.
In the two-week period ending March 27, 2026, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico:
- 98 individuals were charged this [two-week period] with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326)
- 10 individuals were charged this [two-week period] with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324)
- 6 individuals were charged this [two-week period] with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325)
- 19 individuals were charged this [two-week period] 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 8 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for include theft, aggravated DUI, aggravated assault, use of false immigration documents, aggravated vehicular assault, child sexual assault, domestic violence, alien smuggling, narcotics trafficking and prior immigration offenses.
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.
Related: Doña Ana County: Border Patrol Agent Charged with Civil Rights Violation and Evidence Tampering
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.
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