Federal immigration cases filed in the Western District of Texas during the week of September 11 through September 17 included allegations involving illegal reentry, human smuggling, firearms and defendants with previous criminal convictions, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced September 18, 2026.
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Federal Immigration Cases Update
Federal prosecutors reported 264 new federal immigration cases during the seven-day period. The cases were announced by U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons and are part of the Justice Department’s Operation Take Back America initiative.
The announcement covers a federal judicial district that includes 68 Texas counties, nearly 93,000 square miles and approximately 660 miles of border with Mexico. It includes San Antonio, Austin and El Paso, three of the state’s largest cities.
What the 264 cases involve
The cases include people accused of entering or reentering the United States after prior removal, as well as individuals accused of helping migrants travel into or through the country. The release also identified one firearm case involving a Mexican national and several defendants whose prior convictions were cited by prosecutors.
Federal immigration cases can begin with a criminal complaint, an indictment or an arrest followed by a federal court appearance. The filing of a case does not establish that a defendant committed the alleged offense. Criminal complaints and indictments remain allegations unless and until the government proves the charges in court.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the cases were referred or supported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. State and local agencies also assisted in some investigations.
Firearm case followed traffic stop in Guadalupe County
One of the highlighted federal immigration cases involves Jose Ramiro Ramirez Nunez, identified by prosecutors as a Mexican national charged with being an unlawfully present noncitizen in possession of a firearm.
A Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Highway Patrol trooper stopped Ramirez Nunez in Guadalupe County on September 14. The criminal complaint alleges that he was driving without a license and presented a Mexican Consulate identification card.
During an inventory search of the vehicle, the trooper allegedly found an unloaded, holstered.40-caliber pistol in the center console. The complaint also alleges that two magazines loaded with.40-caliber ammunition were found in the glove box.
The release states that an ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officer determined Ramirez Nunez was a Mexican national who was unlawfully present and took him into custody. The federal firearm charge will proceed separately from any potential traffic or state-law issues arising from the stop.
Two illegal reentry cases cite prior convictions
Several federal immigration cases announced by the district involve alleged illegal reentry after removal, a federal offense that prosecutors commonly pursue when a person previously removed from the United States is later found in the country.
Jose Enrique Vasquez-Nicolas, of Mexico, was arrested in El Indio and charged with illegal reentry, according to the release. Prosecutors said he was deported on June 28, 2025, after serving a five-year prison sentence for two counts of sexual assault of a child.
Yoni Donay Hernandez-Orellana, of Honduras, was arrested by Border Patrol agents near Eagle Pass and faces an illegal reentry charge. The release states that he was deported in October 2025 after a conviction for common-law robbery in Charlotte, North Carolina. It also cites a July 2024 conviction for robbery with a dangerous weapon.
In Fort Hancock, Jose Luis Saldana-Barrios, of Mexico, was arrested and charged with illegal reentry. Prosecutors said he had two active warrants, was previously removed in November 2017 and had prior convictions for a fourth driving while intoxicated offense and aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury.
The prior convictions described in the announcement are background allegations or court-history references included by prosecutors. They do not by themselves determine the outcome of the new federal charges.
El Paso cases allege paid migrant transportation
Two of the federal immigration cases involve U.S. citizens accused of arranging or carrying out human smuggling activity in El Paso.
Pedro Damian Torres was previously arrested on a state human-smuggling charge and is now federally charged with alien smuggling. The federal complaint relates to an alleged incident near Paisano Drive.
According to the complaint, a Border Patrol agent discovered a breach in the border fence and five sets of muddy footprints leading toward Paisano Drive. Investigators allegedly reviewed video showing five people crossing the Rio Grande, entering a silver sedan and leaving the area at a high rate of speed.
The vehicle was later linked to Torres, prosecutors said. Investigators allegedly found mud inside the vehicle and arrested Torres as he left a building on Viscount Boulevard. The complaint alleges that Torres admitted picking up five people and receiving $600 for each person, or $3,000 in total. It also alleges that he described three earlier smuggling trips for which he was paid $500 per person.
Lawrence Joshua Lucero was also charged with alien smuggling. Prosecutors allege that Lucero arranged to pick up two people near Porfirio Diaz Street and West Missouri Avenue. The release also cites his prior convictions for human smuggling in June 2025, drug trafficking in 2023 and child abuse in 2016.
How the federal cases move forward
After an arrest or filing, a defendant generally appears before a federal magistrate judge for an initial proceeding. The court may address detention, appointment of counsel and other preliminary matters. Prosecutors must then pursue the case under the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, while the defense may challenge the allegations and evidence.
Some cases begin with complaints based on sworn statements from investigators. A grand jury may later return an indictment, or prosecutors may proceed under the applicable federal process. The precise path depends on the charge, the defendant’s custody status and decisions made by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the court.
For people facing an immigration-related criminal charge, a criminal case can also have separate immigration consequences. Those consequences may include detention, removal proceedings or restrictions on future immigration benefits, depending on the person’s status and the final outcome. Criminal and immigration proceedings are separate, so defendants generally need advice from a qualified criminal defense lawyer and, where appropriate, an immigration attorney.
Operation Take Back America connection
The Justice Department identified the prosecutions as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative focused on immigration enforcement, cartel activity and transnational criminal organizations. The Western District announcement emphasized cooperation among federal, state and local agencies.
The 264 federal immigration cases represent cases opened or charged during the specified reporting period, not 264 convictions. Court records, subsequent hearings and final dispositions will determine how each matter progresses.
All defendants named in the announcement are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in federal court.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many federal immigration cases were filed in Western Texas?
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said federal prosecutors filed 264 immigration and immigration-related criminal cases in the Western District of Texas from September 11 through September 17, 2026.
What types of charges were included?
The announcement identified illegal reentry, alien smuggling and a firearm possession charge involving a Mexican national who prosecutors allege was unlawfully present in the United States.
Do the announced cases mean the defendants were convicted?
No. The cases involve criminal complaints or indictments alleging wrongdoing. Each defendant is presumed innocent unless the government proves the charge beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
Which agencies supported the investigations?
The cases were referred or supported by ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, the DEA, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service and ATF, with assistance from state and local law enforcement agencies.
Fact-Checked: Verified against the U.S. Department of Justice press release dated September 18, 2026, including the case count, reporting period, named defendants, alleged conduct and participating agencies.
Disclaimer: This article summarizes federal allegations and does not determine the outcome of any criminal case.
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