Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against 24 individuals who were reportedly found in the United States following their removal. The Justice Department confirmed the charges this week, a move in collaboration with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
A significant number of those charged had previous felony convictions before their removal. Cases involving narcotics crimes, in particular methamphetamine and cocaine, were cited in some instances. The crime of inadmissible re-entry into the United States can result in a sentence of up to two years in federal prison. This sentence may increase to a maximum of 10 years if the individual was removed following a felony conviction, further escalating to 20 years if the felony was aggravated.
Among the charged individuals is Andrés Palacios Duque, a 51-year-old from Mexico. Duque faces charges related to illegal presence in the U.S. after removal. His previous removal occurred in 2009 and 2015. His criminal record includes a 2014 conviction in Orange County for transporting and possessing methamphetamine and cocaine for sale, serving five years in prison in California. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rosalind Wang from Orange County.
Another defendant, Tereso Guadalupe Martínez Reyes, aged 23 from Mexico, was arraigned after a federal grand jury indictment on two counts: possession of stolen goods and illegally re-entering the country. Arrested on March 13 on Interstate 15 in San Bernardino County, Martínez was allegedly driving a vehicle loaded with stolen Nike shoes valued at $64,530. Previously removed to Mexico in February 2025, Martínez pleaded not guilty on April 1 and awaits trial on May 20 in Los Angeles. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander H. Tran is responsible for prosecuting this case.
Federal agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations, are leading the investigations. These efforts are part of Operation Take Back America, targeting illegal immigration and related transnational criminal organizations through a concerted effort by the Department of Justice's internal task forces.
"Criminal complaints and indictments contain allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."