Alamogordo NM
1-11-2026 8:45pm

Weekly Immigration and Border Crimes Report WE: Jan 9 2026

ALAMOGORDO, NM – January 11, 2026 – As our community in Otero County continues to feel the ripple effects of heightened border security efforts just south of us, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico has released its latest Weekly Immigration and Border Crimes Report. The announcement, issued from Albuquerque, highlights aggressive federal prosecutions in the two-week period ending January 9, 2026, under the ongoing nationwide Operation Take Back America.

Working closely with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and various federal, state, and county partners, federal prosecutors in New Mexico filed a significant number of criminal charges focused on immigration violations. These efforts reflect the current administration’s top priorities of public safety, border security, and cracking down on unlawful entry and related crimes.

Key statistics from the report include:

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

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

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

• 28 individuals charged with a combination of 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). These charges stem directly from incidents in the New Mexico National Defense Area, a restricted military zone established along portions of the southern border in Hidalgo, Luna, and Doña Ana counties to support enhanced detection, monitoring, and enforcement.

Many of those charged under 8 U.S.C. § 1326 had prior convictions, including burglary, narcotics possession, DUI, assault, fraud, and previous immigration violations.

These prosecutions are part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice-led initiative that deploys full federal resources to address illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and safeguard communities from violent crime. The statistics cover only criminal cases handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico and do not include individuals processed solely through administrative immigration channels.

The report emphasizes that under current leadership, enhanced enforcement at the border and in the interior has targeted individuals involved in serious offenses, including human trafficking, sexual assault, and crimes against children. New Mexico’s 180-mile international border with Mexico remains a key focus, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys based in Albuquerque and Las Cruces collaborating closely with local law enforcement.

For residents of Alamogordo and Otero County – home to the Otero County Processing Center and near the active enforcement zones – these updates underscore the ongoing federal commitment to border security. While border crossings have reportedly reached record lows in recent months, the combination of military-supported National Defense Areas and vigorous prosecutions continues to shape the regional landscape.

This report aligns with broader national trends in 2026, where military involvement in border operations has expanded significantly. Local leaders and residents alike continue to monitor how these efforts impact our communities, from public safety to economic ties along the southern corridor.

Stay tuned to 2nd Life Media Alamogordo Town News & KALH Radio for more local updates on border-related developments, community impacts, and regional news. For the full official release, visit the Department of Justice website https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/us-attorneys-office-district-new-mexico-weekly-immigration-and-border-crimes-report-33

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