Alamogordo NM
12-01-2025 6:27pm

Federal Immigration Prosecutions in New Mexico Show Shifting Trends

 The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico has released its latest weekly immigration and border crimes report, underscoring both the scale of prosecutions and the shifting patterns of enforcement along the state’s 180-mile border with Mexico.

In the three-day period ending November 26, prosecutors charged nearly 100 individuals with immigration-related offenses. The three-day period, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico:

  • 29 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326)
  • 6 individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324)
  • 54 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325)
  • 4 individuals were charged this week 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 18 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for drug trafficking and domestic violence.

 Officials emphasized that many defendants charged under illegal reentry statutes had prior convictions for serious crimes, including drug trafficking and domestic violence.

These prosecutions fall under Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at dismantling cartels, repelling illegal immigration, and protecting communities from violent crime. The report stresses that the figures reflect criminal prosecutions only, not administrative immigration processing.

Comparing Recent Weeks

While the latest report highlights a surge in illegal entry cases, a broader look at recent weeks reveals notable shifts:

In late August and mid-September, illegal reentry prosecutions held steady at around 42 cases per week, while military zone violations were unusually high, with more than 50 individuals charged for incursions into newly established National Defense Areas.

By late November, illegal entry prosecutions had more than doubled compared to August, while military zone violations dropped sharply to just four cases.

Alien smuggling prosecutions have remained relatively consistent, ranging between three and six cases weekly.

Broader Context

The District of New Mexico, covering 33 counties, continues to coordinate closely with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and local agencies. Prosecutors in Albuquerque and Las Cruces have prioritized public safety, citing enhanced enforcement efforts that target individuals with histories of violent crime, human trafficking, and sexual assault.

Significance

The weekly reports provide a snapshot of how federal enforcement intersects with local communities. The rise in illegal entry prosecutions suggests intensified border monitoring, while the decline in military zone violations may reflect either deterrence success or a shift in enforcement priorities.

For New Mexico, these numbers illustrate the complexity of border-related prosecutions and the evolving strategies under Operation Take Back America.

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