Justin De La Torre, the Border Patrol chief for San Diego, California, announced on X that agents from Arizona’s Wellton Station arrested three Mexican nationals in an alleged smuggling attempt. One individual faces charges of alien smuggling and illegal reentry, while the other two were charged and processed for deportation.
“Wearing carpet over their shoes and camouflage, these illegal aliens tried to sneak into our house,” said De La Torre. “Thanks to Wellton Station agents, they didn’t get very far. One of the Mexican nationals, Rosario Alberto Gomez Ruiz, 45, has previous felony convictions for reentry of a removed alien. The other two illegal aliens received illegal entry and reentry charges, fines, and deportation. Break the law, face the consequences.”
According to Yuma Sector’s official social media, the three Mexican nationals attempted to cross the desert near Wellton, Arizona. They wore camouflage and carpeted “booties” over their shoes to conceal their tracks. Wellton Station agents apprehended the group before they could advance further into U.S. territory. Records checks revealed that one man, 45-year-old Rosario Alberto Gomez Ruiz, had prior felony convictions for reentry of a removed alien. Agents charged him with alien smuggling under 8 U.S.C. 1324 and illegal reentry under 8 U.S.C. 1326. The other two individuals received charges related to illegal entry or reentry, fines, and removal from the country.
Border Patrol has documented smugglers using camouflage clothing and carpeted footwear to evade detection in Yuma’s deserts for some time. A 2020 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) release noted that illegal crossers often use these methods to blur footprints and blend into the terrain while transporting narcotics. Officials say these techniques demonstrate the level of planning involved in many crossings.
National prosecution data indicates that crimes like those charged in the Gomez Ruiz case are increasingly common in federal courts. A recent Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) analysis found that 8 U.S.C. § 1324 is now the second most frequently filed lead charge in federal district courts, showing significant year-over-year increases.
De La Torre is a veteran U.S. Border Patrol leader with over 25 years of experience securing the Southwest border. He began his career at the Imperial Beach Station in 2000 and has held various leadership roles since then. In January 2025, he became chief patrol agent of the Yuma Sector before being introduced as chief patrol agent for the San Diego Sector later that year.
