SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 114 border-related cases this week, including charges of bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city).
In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here.
A sample of border-related arrests this week: On October 19, 2026, Cristian Jonathan Cortes, a United States citizen, was arrested and charged with Importation of Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers discovered 49 pounds of cocaine concealed in the doors of the 2010 Toyota Tundra the defendant was driving as he applied for entry to the U.S. at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. On October 20, 2026, Marina Viviana Gary, a Mexican citizen and Permanent Resident of the United States, was arrested and charged with Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers discovered an individual concealed under a plastic panel covering a non-factory sheet-metal compartment towards the rear of the vehicle. Further inspection revealed a second individual concealed in a modified spare tire well compartment. In order to remove the second individual from the spare well compartment, Customs and Border Protection officers had to unlatch and fold back the sheet metal. The two individuals were concealed in the Hyundai Santa Fe the defendant was driving as she applied for entry to the U.S. at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. On October 21, 2026, Benjamin Galindo, a United States citizen, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers discovered 37 pounds of fentanyl concealed in the rear seats, center console, and roof of the vehicle of his 2005 Toyota Camry the defendant was driving as he applied for entry to the U.S. at the Tecate Port of Entry. The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, 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), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners.
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.