The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas charged 222 people with immigration and border security-related crimes from October 16-23, 2026. The charges include 165 felony reentry cases, 24 illegal entry cases, 23 human smuggling cases, and other immigration-related crimes.
Where
Statewide
When
Oct. 16-23, 2026
Sources
Reported by 2 outlets
Taxes and money
None stated in sources.
Who's involved
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texascharging authority
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigationsfederal law enforcement partner
ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operationsfederal law enforcement partner
Border Patrolfederal law enforcement partner
Drug Enforcement Administrationfederal law enforcement partner
FBIfederal law enforcement partner
U.S. Marshals Servicefederal law enforcement partner
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosivesfederal law enforcement partner
The facts
222 people were charged with immigration and border security-related crimes.1
189 of those charged were identified as illegal aliens.1
165 criminal complaints were filed for felony reentry after prior removal.1
23 people were charged with human smuggling, including 11 illegal aliens.1
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District represents 43 counties and 10 million people.1
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas Most charged illegal aliens have prior felonies involving narcotics, violent crime, and immigration offenses.1
How they headlined it
The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.
Hundreds of New Cases Filed Under Operation Take Back America
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
Thirteen individuals were charged in El Paso following Operation Southbound Takedown, an investigation into transporting stolen vehicles to Mexican cartels. Investigators recovered 29 vehicles worth approximately $1,137,000.
$$1,137,000 for estimated value of recovered stolen vehicles
Justin R. Simmons, U.S. Attorney, Western District of Texas; Ryan G. McRae, Special Agent in Charge, HSI El Paso; Coult W. Markovsky, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FBI El Paso Field Office and 1 more
The federal government is considering relocating a planned border wall at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge from a levee adjacent to the refuge to instead cut through the refuge itself. The change addresses a legal dispute where government contractors are accused of trespassing on property owned by Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 2.
$2.8 miles for border wall construction
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, federal agency planning border wall; Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Duke, federal government attorney discussing relocation plans at federal court hearing; Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 2, water district that sued contractors over trespass and 4 more
CBS News aired a 60 Minutes segment Sunday about Moussa Diawara, a Malian national deported from Texas in July after 25 years in the U.S. Trump administration officials disputed the program's framing, saying Diawara claimed to be gay in his asylum application despite being married with children, while CBS reported his claim rested on Christian persecution fears.
Moussa Diawara, Deported Malian national featured in 60 Minutes segment; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Federal agency that disputed the 60 Minutes characterization; Department of Homeland Security, Federal agency that disputed the asylum claim basis and 3 more
The small Texas town of Ingram signed an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Patrol officer Jaron Alexander conducted traffic stops and turned over individuals to immigration agents, affecting residents including his repeated interactions with a woman named Joanna Martinez.
Jaron Alexander, Ingram patrol officer; Joanna Martinez, Ingram resident; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Federal immigration agency and 1 more
Dr. Jennifer Shuford, CDC deputy director and chief medical officer who previously led the Texas Department of State Health Services, announced her resignation after about six months in the federal role. Her last day is November 12.
Dr. Jennifer Shuford, CDC deputy director and chief medical officer; Dr. Erica Schwartz, CDC Director; Satish Pillai, Acting deputy director and chief medical officer
A storm system moving across the Great Plains brought heavy rain to the Texas Panhandles on October 26, 2026. The National Weather Service issued flood warnings and predicted moderate to heavy rainfall with a level 1 excessive rainfall risk in place.
National Weather Service, weather forecaster issuing warnings and predictions
An altercation occurred during a youth softball game at Imperial Park in Sugar Land on Saturday. Kiarious Marshun Hall allegedly struck one father with a metal water bottle, causing him to fall unconscious, then swung the bottle at a second man. Jazmine Hall allegedly pushed a grandfather during the confrontation. Both parents were arrested and face criminal charges.
Kiarious Marshun Hall, Parent charged in altercation at softball game; Jazmine Hall, Parent charged in altercation at softball game; Gary Greaser, Grandfather who attempted to intervene in altercation
A University of Houston poll shows more than 80% of likely Texas voters expressed concern about data centers' impact on electricity prices, water supply, and power outages. The poll found partisan differences, with Democrats more concerned than Republicans.
University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs, Conducted poll on Texas voter concerns; Gov. Greg Abbott, Signed 2015 bill expanding data center tax breaks; recently directed state regulators to halt new facility permits; Gina Hinojosa, Democratic gubernatorial nominee who criticized Abbott on data centers and 1 more