(The Center Square) – The Department of Justice (DOJ) charged 134 people in Arizona with immigration-related criminal charges last week.
This marked the second consecutive week in which the DOJ brought charges against more than 130 people in Arizona with immigration-related crimes.
Of these cases, 66 are related to illegal immigrants reentering the United States, according to the DOJ press release.
Illegal immigrants caught reentering America may face up to two years in prison and a fine.
Additionally, 57 more illegal immigrants face charges of entering the country illegally.
These individuals may face a prison sentence of up to six months and a civil penalty.
Regarding human smuggling, 11 people were charged with smuggling illegal immigrants into the United States.
According to the United States Sentencing Commission, the average sentence for someone convicted of human smuggling is 15 months.
The government press release highlighted several notable criminal cases that were brought last week.
Felipe Osuna Hernandez, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, was charged with bringing an illegal alien into the United States for profit and while placing the person’s life in jeopardy.
Hernandez allegedly brought two illegal immigrants from Mexico into America without proper food or water. He allegedly acted as their guide. The DOJ press release states that when one of the illegal immigrants needed medical assistance, but Hernandez allegedly ignored the person and took the Mexican nationals’ phones so they couldn’t call for help.
Hernandez allegedly left one of the people deceased in the desert.
Another case involves Luis Enrique Beltran-Ceballos, an illegal immigrant from Mexico. Beltran-Ceballos has been charged with bringing an alien to the United States and improper entry by alien.
The Mexican national allegedly smuggled a 12-year-old girl into America. Beltran-Ceballos had allegedly never met this girl before, using a ladder to get him and her into America illegally.
After crossing the border, he allegedly attempted to avoid detection by hiding with the girl in a canal. An investigation later revealed Beltran-Ceballos had allegedly participated in this smuggling, expecting to be paid for it.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration and other federal law enforcement agencies helped bring about these criminal cases, which are a part of Operation Take Back America.
This operation seeks to give federal law enforcement the DOJ’s full resources to stop illegal immigrants, eliminate drug cartels and protect local communities.
