A 41-year-old man from Harlingen, who resided illegally in the United States, has been sentenced to federal prison. U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced that Fidel Jose-Ramirez was convicted for unlawfully reentering the country. Jose-Ramirez pleaded guilty on December 18, 2024, and U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. sentenced him to 33 months in prison.
Jose-Ramirez, not a U.S. citizen, will likely face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. During the hearing, the court was informed of his history of violating supervised release related to a previous conviction. Judge Rodriguez considered public protection factors and noted that Jose-Ramirez's criminal history posed a higher public safety risk.
His criminal record includes convictions for driving while intoxicated, assault family violence, criminal mischief, and possession of a controlled substance. Jose-Ramirez was initially ordered removed from the United States in 2019. He was previously convicted for being unlawfully found in the country after removal in 2023. Investigations revealed his illegal reentry on January 3, 2024, after crossing the Rio Grande River near Brownsville.
He remains in custody, awaiting transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Marian prosecuted the case.