The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas announced on Apr. 17 that 446 people have been charged from April 10 to April 16 as part of Operation Take Back America, according to Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
The large number of charges reflects ongoing efforts to address illegal entry, human smuggling, and related crimes in the region. Of those charged, 169 face illegal entry allegations and 242 are accused of re-entering the United States after prior removal. Thirty-three individuals are alleged to have engaged in human smuggling activities, while three others face firearms-related charges. Many defendants also reportedly have prior convictions for narcotics offenses, violent crime, sexual offenses or other immigration violations.
Among recent cases are Yahaniel Somoza from Houston and Fidel Cantu-Mendez from Edinburg, both allegedly involved in human smuggling operations. Authorities say Somoza transported undocumented individuals and instructed them on their behavior while in his custody; a search found fifteen people at a local mechanic shop connected to him. In another case, Cantu-Mendez was accused of picking up several undocumented individuals near Escobares and instructing them to flee when stopped by law enforcement; he was apprehended along with thirteen others after a foot chase.
Other notable prosecutions include Andrei Eduardo Mayorga Oliva—a Honduran national previously convicted for carnal knowledge of a child—and Julian Flores-Molina—a Mexican national—both charged with unauthorized reentry into the United States after previous removals and prior criminal convictions.
Operation Pick-Off has also continued this week as part of broader enforcement efforts targeting criminal illegal aliens on state probation or supervision across all divisions within the district since its launch in August 2025.
Federal law enforcement agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives support these initiatives alongside state and local partners.
The Justice Department serves as the principal federal agency for law enforcement according to its official website. It maintains operations throughout the United States and internationally in over fifty countries according to its official website. The department employs more than 115,000 people worldwide as noted on its official website.
Attorney General Merrick Garland assumed leadership as the department’s eighty-sixth attorney general following his swearing-in on March 11, 2021 according to its official website. Garland oversaw key prosecutions including the Oklahoma City bombing case during his tenure at Justice as per its official website.
The Justice Department focuses on upholding rule of law ensuring national safety safeguarding civil rights as detailed on its official website.
Officials emphasized that indictments or criminal complaints represent formal accusations only; all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty through due process.
