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331 people charged in Arizona immigration sweep under Operation Take Back America

May 22, 2025 · AZ

331 people charged in Arizona immigration sweep under Operation Take Back America

Federal prosecutors charged 331 people in Arizona during a May 21–29 immigration enforcement operation coordinated by ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, the DEA, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, and ATF. The charges included 163 illegal entry counts, 146 illegal re-entry cases, and 18 smuggling cases involving 22 people. Among those charged was Joel Ibarra-Lara, who was charged on May 27 with reentry after being removed from the United States in 2009 and had a prior 2001 narcotics conviction in Arizona. Mario Alberto Varela, a U.S. citizen, was charged on May 22 with transporting undocumented immigrants after a Pinal County officer stopped his vehicle on May 21 for suspended registration and found three unlawfully present passengers. The sweep was part of Operation Take Back America, a Justice Department initiative focused on immigration and smuggling prosecutions.

Timeline

May 30, 2026Federal prosecutors announced charges against 331 people for immigration crimes during the May 2025 operation
May 29, 2025Week-long immigration enforcement operation concluded
May 27, 2025Joel Ibarra-Lara charged with reentry of removed undocumented immigrant, 16 years after 2009 deportation
May 23, 2025Multi-agency immigration enforcement operation began in Arizona
May 22, 2025Mario Alberto Varela charged with transportation of undocumented immigrants
May 21, 2025Pinal County officer stopped vehicle driven by Mario Alberto Varela for suspended registration; three unlawfully present passengers found inside

Sources

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