E. Martin Estrada, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California
Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against 24 individuals suspected of illegally reentering the United States after removal. The announcement was made by the Justice Department, in collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Among the defendants are individuals previously deported following felony convictions. One defendant was found guilty of narcotics offenses involving methamphetamine and cocaine.
In the U.S., reentry following removal can result in up to two years in federal prison. For those removed following a felony conviction, sentencing increases to a maximum of 10 years, while those with aggravated felony convictions face up to 20 years.
The cases highlighted include that of Andrés Palacios Duque, 51, from Mexico, who faces charges of illegal presence in the U.S. after removal. Duque's history includes a 2014 conviction for transporting and selling narcotics in California. His case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rosalind Wang.
Another case involves Tereso Guadalupe Martínez Reyes, 23, also from Mexico. He was indicted on charges including possession of stolen interstate goods and illegal reentry. Martínez was arrested after being found with over 400 stolen shoe boxes in a vehicle. Previously removed in February 2025, he is set for trial on May 20, with Assistant United States Attorney Alexander H. Tran handling the prosecution.
These allegations are part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative focusing on immigration enforcement and tackling transnational criminal organizations. The initiative is supported by resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
The accused remain presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Investigations are being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations.
