PHOENIX, Ariz. – In a major crackdown on immigration-related crimes, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona has charged 260 individuals in a week-long enforcement operation that spanned from March 22, 2025, to March 28, 2025.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the charges were brought against individuals who illegally re-entered the United States, with 96 cases filed against aliens who re-entered the country. Additionally, 155 aliens were charged with illegally entering the United States. In a separate effort to deter unlawful immigration, the U.S. Attorney’s Office filed 9 cases against 9 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 Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The U.S. Attorney’s Office highlighted a recent case involving Greiby Melissa Barcelo-Velasquez, a Columbian national who was sentenced to 30 months in prison for Conspiracy to Encourage and Induce an Alien to Unlawfully Enter the United States. Barcelo-Velasquez coordinated the smuggling of over 100 illegal aliens from Columbia to the United States using her travel company, Baul Travel SAS, since approximately June 2023.
This case is the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office praised the law enforcement agencies involved in the operation for their tireless efforts to combat immigration-related crimes.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office also noted that the charges filed this week are part of an ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration and bring those responsible to justice. The public is encouraged to report any information regarding immigration-related crimes to the authorities.
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X at https://x.com/@USAO_AZ for the latest news.
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Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Category: Border Patrol|Immigration|Federal Law Enforcement
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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