The Trump administration has filed federal charges against a Mexican national who illegally re-entered the United States and allegedly built a business around employing other illegal aliens.
Blademir Angulo Audeves, 42, the owner of the Arizona-based food truck chain Taqueria El Taco Loko, was arrested earlier this month in Phoenix by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Federal authorities say Audeves not only reentered the U.S. after being deported in 2021, but knowingly hired at least a dozen illegal aliens to work at his business.
He now faces a slate of serious charges, including Harboring of an Illegal Alien, Knowingly Employing Unauthorized Aliens, Improper Entry by an Alien, and Alien in Possession of a Firearm.
Authorities also conducted a raid of Audeves’ residence, where they discovered three firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition—another federal crime due to his illegal status. Investigators say Audeves went a step further than most: court documents allege he paid $12,000 per person to smuggle some of his workers into the country, expecting repayment through labor at his restaurants.
The charges are part of a broader crackdown by the Trump administration on illegal employment schemes. Earlier this year, ICE and HSI arrested eight illegal aliens working at a Texas bakery near the border. That operation also led to the arrest of the bakery’s two owners, who were charged with harboring illegal aliens.
“A West Phoenix taco shop owner is in federal custody tonight, accused of knowingly hiring a dozen illegal immigrants at his business.”
“The owner of the shop is accused of smuggling and hiring people who are not American citizens.” pic.twitter.com/glzY5BBKSu
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 15, 2025
The case sends a clear message: under President Trump’s leadership, the federal government is not only targeting illegal border crossings—but also holding accountable those who fund and exploit the black market labor pipeline that fuels it.