A Honduran national was sentenced in Mobile, Alabama, on April 21, 2025, after illegally reentering the United States, having previously been deported. According to court documents, Saul Cruz-Argueta, 39, was encountered by agents from the United States Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations during inspections at a labor site. It was discovered that he had been removed from the United States in 2016 and 2018 and had prior convictions for illegal reentry, theft of property, and possession of marijuana.
Chief Judge Beaverstock imposed a time-served sentence and a one-year term of supervised release upon Cruz-Argueta's future release. He has been in custody since his arrest on March 7, 2025. After his release from prison, Cruz-Argueta will be referred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings. He was also ordered to pay $100 in special assessments.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama. The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jimmy L. Thomas prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case forms part of Operation Take Back America, a national initiative utilizing the full resources of the Department of Justice. The operation aims to combat illegal immigration, eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime.