Federal criminal sentencings for illegal reentry
ORLANDO, Fla. – Two individuals were sentenced last week for illegally re-entering the United States after being encountered by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
Luis Alexander Zaldivar-Ramos, 23, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison. Zaldivar-Ramos was previously convicted of a criminal felony and deported on two prior occasions. Julio Cesar Ontiveros-Tafolla, 30, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to time served, which equated to five and half months. Ontiveros-Tafolla had previously been removed to Mexico three times and will now be deported for the fourth time.
“ICE’s legal team will continue safeguarding the security of our nation by diligently pursuing criminal prosecution and the removal of criminal aliens,” said Chief Counsel Maria N. Bjornerud of the Orlando Office of Chief Counsel office.
Criminal re-entry (8 U.S.C. 1326(a)) is a federal felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
ICE continues to focus its enforcement resources on individuals who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security. ICE conducts targeted immigration enforcement in compliance with federal law and agency policy. However, as ICE Acting Director Thomas Homan has made clear, ICE does not exempt classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement. All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States.
Updated: