U.S. Attorney Timothy Duax | U.S. Department of Justice
A Mexican national, Arturo Reyna-Arajo, has been sentenced to six months in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after being deported. The sentence was handed down on December 2, 2024, following Reyna-Arajo's guilty plea in September to one count of illegal reentry.
Reyna-Arajo, 31, residing in Postville, Iowa, admitted to returning to the United States without government permission after a prior deportation. He was originally deported in February 2016 but was discovered by immigration officials on June 22, 2024. This discovery followed his arrest on state charges in Allamakee County. In addition to this offense, Reyna-Arajo has a previous conviction from 2015 for falsifying public documents in Clayton County, Iowa.
The sentencing took place in Cedar Rapids under United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Besides the prison term, Reyna-Arajo will serve a three-year supervised release period post-imprisonment. It is noted that there is no parole option within the federal system.
Currently held by the United States Marshal's custody, Reyna-Arajo will remain so until he is transferred to immigration officials for further proceedings.
Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt prosecuted the case with an investigation conducted by the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations division.
