An El Salvadorian national and a Guatemalan national have been indicted on charges of unlawful reentry into the United States, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack. The cases are unrelated.
Juan Ruiz, a 30-year-old El Salvadorian national residing unlawfully in Manchester, has been deported or removed from the United States three times—on June 10, 2016, May 18, 2017, and October 14, 2021. He was found in New Hampshire on April 22, 2025.
Jorge Abelino Roque-Mejia, a 36-year-old Guatemalan national also residing unlawfully in the U.S., was previously deported to Guatemala on May 22, 2009. He was located in New Hampshire on April 20, 2025.
Both individuals are currently held in ICE custody and will appear in federal court at an unspecified date.
The statute under which they are charged allows for a sentence of up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are determined by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigations with Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuting the cases.
These actions are part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aimed at addressing illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations. This operation involves resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
It is important to note that the details provided in charging documents are allegations. The defendants remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.