United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg has announced the unsealing of an indictment against Elizabeth Ramirez-Medina, a 39-year-old Mexican national, for illegal reentry into the United States after deportation. If found guilty, Ramirez-Medina could face up to two years in federal prison. She was arraigned on January 28, 2025, and is currently detained as her case proceeds.
The indictment states that Ramirez-Medina had been deported from the United States once before. Following her removal, she did not obtain permission from either the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission into the country. On October 3, 2024, authorities discovered that she was voluntarily present in the United States.
It is important to note that an indictment is simply a formal accusation of one or more violations of federal criminal law. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.