PHOENIX, Ariz. – Between April 5, 2025, and April 11, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona filed immigration-related criminal charges against 261 individuals. This includes 103 cases of individuals illegally re-entering the United States, and 140 cases of aliens who illegally entered the country. Additionally, 14 cases were filed against 18 individuals for smuggling illegal aliens into and within Arizona.
These actions are supported by federal law enforcement partners, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent Cases of Interest Include:
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United States v. Sanchez-Marcial: On April 8, 2025, Ofricino Sanchez-Marcial was arrested and charged with Harboring Illegal Aliens. The criminal complaint claims that Sanchez-Marcial detained a Guatemalan citizen, who was unlawfully in the U.S., and sent threatening messages to the individual’s family, demanding a $135,000 ransom.
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United States v. Renteria-Cruz: On April 8, 2025, Bonifacio Renteria-Cruz, 48, a Mexican citizen, was arrested for Illegal Re-Entry following an HSI operation led by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan. In January 2025, HSI discovered Renteria-Cruz had re-entered the U.S. after being deported for a 2006 Aggravated Assault conviction. After deportation, Mexican authorities charged him with homicide for a 2009 incident in Mexico. He was arrested by HSI on Tuesday.
A criminal complaint is merely a formal charge and does not imply guilt. The individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that uses the full resources of the Department of Justice to combat illegal immigration, eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and safeguard communities from violent criminals. Operation Take Back America streamlines the efforts and resources of the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
