Western Texas Prosecutors Filed 1,709 Immigration Cases During Six-Week Shutdown

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said work continued despite employees going without pay.

Overview

U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons announced the filings, describing them as part of DOJ’s Operation Take Back America.
The office highlighted a Nov. 10 arrest of Juan Jesus Carranza Jr. after a high-speed chase in a reportedly stolen vehicle that ended with an injured DPS trooper and an alien smuggling charge.
Gerardo Francisco Hernandez-Acosta, arrested Oct. 15, was indicted Nov. 12 on counts of conspiracy to transport aliens and transporting aliens for financial gain.
Late-October filings included firearm-related cases tied to noncitizen defendants in the San Antonio area, as well as an undercover case in which Florentino Cortes Uribe allegedly sold cocaine and guns.
Prosecutors credited ICE, Border Patrol, DEA, FBI, USMS, ATF, and local partners with support, and emphasized that all charges are allegations with defendants presumed innocent.