Gabriel Dejesus Portillo-Abrego, a 37-year-old citizen of El Salvador, was sentenced on July 30 to time served of 208 days for illegally reentering the United States after being removed in 2019. Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said that Portillo-Abrego will be removed from the country following his sentence.
Portillo-Abrego pleaded guilty in March to one count of illegal reentry into the United States. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided over the case.
According to court documents, Portillo-Abrego had previously been deported in 2019 and returned without authorization. Local law enforcement in Belgrade stopped him on March 1, 2025, for speeding and driving under the influence. After his detention, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement determined that he lacked proper authorization to return to the country.
The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative focused on combating illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana is part of the Department of Justice and is appointed by the Attorney General; its offices are located in Billings, Great Falls, Helena, and Missoula to support operations across Montana, according to the official website. The office contributes to community safety by addressing issues such as violent crime, fraud, environmental offenses, and protecting public funds through ethical enforcement of federal laws.