U.S. Attorney’s Office Reports Weekly Immigration Enforcement Statistics in New Mexico

Interim U.S. Attorney for New Mexico Ryan Ellison is “acting” US attorney, following a Justice Department move that extends the state’s chief federal prosecutor’s term until next year without Senate or federal court approval. As such the United States Attorney’s Office of Ryan Ellison for the District of New Mexico has released its immigration enforcement statistics for the week ending November 21, 2025. The prosecutions were carried out in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and with assistance from federal, state, and county agencies. 

Weekly Prosecution Numbers

During this one-week period, federal prosecutors brought the following charges:

• 50 individuals charged with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326)

• 2 individuals charged with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324)

• 45 individuals charged with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325)

• 55 individuals charged with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), Violation of Military Security Regulation (50 U.S.C. 797), and Entering Military, Naval, or Coast Guard Property (18 U.S.C. 1382), stemming from incidents at the newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico

Officials noted that many defendants charged under 8 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions, including child abuse, disorderly conduct, and previous immigration offenses.

Operation Take Back America

These prosecutions are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime.

The statistics reflect only criminal prosecutions by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. They do not include individuals processed administratively by immigration enforcement agencies.

District Priorities

Under current leadership, the District of New Mexico has emphasized public safety and border security as top priorities. Enhanced enforcement efforts at both the border and within the interior of the district have led to arrests of individuals with serious criminal histories, including cases involving human trafficking, sexual assault, and crimes against children.

The District of New Mexico encompasses 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys based in Albuquerque and Las Cruces continue to work closely with law enforcement partners at all levels to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.

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