A federal grand jury in Birmingham has charged nine individuals with immigration crimes, primarily for reentering the United States after previously being deported, with one charged with possession of a firearm.
U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona made the announcement on Tuesday, citing the slew of indictments on efforts by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to crack down on illegal immigration and related crimes.
The following eight defendants were charged with illegal reentry into the United States.
- Jesus Malaquias Manuel-Marcos, 44, of Guatemala.
- Sergio Rogelio Sandoval-Luna, 26, of Mexico.
- Jose Medrano Aguilar-Rodriguez, 42, of Mexico.
- Jose Alberto Sanchez-Pineda, 35, of Mexico.
- Sergio Dominguez-Bautista, 42, of Mexico.
- Husaid Cruz-Santos, 28, a citizen of Mexico.
- Berenice Margarita Reyes-Rodriguez, 44, of Mexico.
- Pedro Paz-Diaz, 36, of Guatemala.
Elvin Geovanny Lopez-Diaz, 19, from Honduras, was charged with being an alien in possession of a firearm.
The indictments are part of the DOJ’s efforts that began in March to “repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.”
Operation Take Back America uses the full breadth of DOJ resources to “implement core policy objectives established by President Trump and the Attorney General.”
While specific numbers are not available, the initiative has already resulted in thousands of arrests nationwide, particularly in states that share a border with Mexico.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
