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Divisions

Houston/Galveston

Known as “Space City,” Houston was the first word spoken from the moon. Home to more than two million people within an area covering 600 square miles, the city of Houston is the fourth largest in the United States and a major hub of transportation. It has two major airports and is the second busiest port in America. Truly an intercultural city, more than 90 languages are spoken here and has one of the youngest populations in the nation, partly due to an influx of immigrants into Texas. An estimated 400,000 illegal immigrants reside in Houston. The office contains the headquarters of the Southern District as well as nearly 200 attorneys and support staff personnel. For more information about the respective divisions, see:

Asset Forfeiture/Financial Litigation
Fraud
Human Rights/Organized Crime
Narcotics Enforcement/OCDETF
National Security/Public Corruption
Violent Crimes

Brownsville

Located literally at the tip of Texas on the northeast border with Mexico and along the Gulf coast, the Brownsville Division today primarily covers the two counties of Willacy and Cameron including the City of Brownsville which now has more than 150,000 people and as far north as Kleberg, Kenedy and Nueces County. Read more about the work of the - Brownsville Division.

Corpus Christi/Victoria

The beautiful city of Corpus Christi, with its 285,000 people looks out over the Gulf of Mexico. Even though it has no international border, the division covers 100 miles of coast line and three of the most heavily traveled smuggling routes in Texas. Read more about the work of the - Corpus Christi Division.

Laredo Division

Billed as the Gateway to Mexico, Laredo is one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. It has a population of more than 217,000 people along with more than 520,000 across the river in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Laredo is also the busiest inland port in the nation, handling more freight than all the U.S. ports of entry to its west combined. Read more about the work of the - Laredo Division.

McAllen Division

McAllen, a border town located 60 miles up the Rio Grande River from Brownsville, is a major gateway to Mexico. The McAllen office is responsible for all cases arising from Hidalgo and Starr Counties, which cover a 175-mile stretch of international border, with seven ports of entry and have a combined population of more than 786,000. Read more about the work of the - For more information - McAllen Division.

Civil Division

AUSAs in the Civil Division represent the United States in civil law suits in state and federal courts throughout the SDTX. The assigned attorney remains responsible for a civil case from the trial court proceedings through appellate review at the U.S. Courts of Appeals. Representation can be for the U.S. as plaintiff or a creditor in bankruptcy proceedings and for the U.S. as a defendant or its officers or employees as defendants. For more information - Civil Division.

Appellate Division

The Appellate Division represents the United States on appeal before the United States Court of Appealsfor the Fifth Circuit - based in New Orleans, La. - which has jurisdiction over federal appeals from Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The Appellate Division handles all the appeals from criminal cases prosecuted by this office, while the Civil Division handles the civil appeals. For more information - Appellate Division.

Updated April 5, 2022