Kevin Salguero-Chacon, Transportation of an Illegal Alien, Arizona 2026

179 Charged with Immigration-Related Crimes, Arizona 2026

PHOENIX, Ariz. – In a major crackdown on immigration-related crimes, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought charges against 179 individuals during the week of enforcement operations from February 14 through February 20, 2026.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the cases involved 112 individuals who illegally re-entered the United States, 53 individuals who entered the country illegally, and 14 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.

The cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Among the notable cases was United States v. Kevin Salguero-Chacon, who was charged with Transportation of an Illegal Alien on February 19, 2026. An Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper observed Salguero-Chacon driving on I-10 westbound and initiated a traffic stop after a vehicle registration check revealed that the car’s registration was expired. Seven passengers, including two juveniles, were found in the vehicle, all of whom were citizens of Mexico unlawfully present in the United States.

Additionally, United States v. Joel Portillo-Saucedo was charged with Bringing in Illegal Aliens and Re-entry of Removed Alien on February 17, 2026. A Border Patrol agent observed four individuals traveling northbound on I-8 and apprehended two of them after they fled. It was found that Portillo-Saucedo acted as the foot guide for the group, receiving $1,000 USD for each illegal alien.

Another notable case was United States v. Armando Gomez-Talavera, who was charged with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit on February 17, 2026. Border Patrol agents attempted to stop a blue Ford F150 suspected of loading illegal aliens near the border, but the truck failed to yield. The driver, Gomez-Talavera, and five other subjects fled on foot, and all were apprehended by Border Patrol agents.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona has a long history of cracking down on immigration-related crimes. For more information, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ or follow them on Twitter at @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

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