Sean P. Costello U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama
A Honduran national, Saul Cruz-Argueta, was sentenced on April 21, 2025, for illegally reentering the United States after being deported in the past. Court documents reveal that Cruz-Argueta, 39, was encountered during labor site inspections conducted by agents from the United States Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations. The investigation showed that he had been deported in 2016 and 2018, and he has previous convictions for illegal reentry, theft of property, and possession of marijuana.
Chief Judge Beaverstock sentenced Cruz-Argueta to time served and a one-year term of supervised release upon future release. He has been in custody since his arrest on March 7, 2025. Following his imprisonment, Cruz-Argueta is to be reviewed for deportation proceedings by immigration officials. He was also ordered to pay $100 in special assessments.
The sentencing announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama. The case was investigated by several law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, ATF, 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 prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America, a national initiative by the Department of Justice aiming to tackle illegal immigration and dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations while safeguarding communities from violent crime.
