Holiday border blitz: 143 charged as smugglers crash and dash in Arizona
Story by Jake Grissom • 20h
Federal prosecutors in Arizona were busy over the holiday week, bringing criminal charges against nearly 150 individuals in a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration and human smuggling.
During a week-long enforcement surge running from December 20 through December 26, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona filed charges against 143 people.
The bulk of the caseload focused on repeat offenders, with prosecutors filing 105 cases against individuals accused of illegally re-entering the United States after previous removals. Another 32 defendants were charged with illegal entry.
Beyond individual crossings, authorities targeted the logistics networks moving people through the desert. The office filed charges against six alleged smugglers accused of transporting undocumented migrants into and through the district.
The operation involved a wide net of federal partners, including U.S. Border Patrol, the FBI, the DEA, U.S. Marshals, and multiple divisions within ICE.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/holiday-border-blitz-143-charged-as-smugglers-crash-and-dash-in-arizona/ar-AA1Tp4Y9?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=6957b5f5af7843b5ab6e34bbe595bb89&ei=74
