E. Martin Estrada, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California
Federal prosecutors have charged 34 individuals with being illegal aliens found in the United States following their removal, according to an announcement by the Justice Department. These charges were filed in collaboration with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Many of those charged had prior felony convictions before their removal from the country. The crime of being found in the U.S. after removal can result in a base sentence of up to two years in federal prison. If a defendant was removed after a felony conviction, they face a maximum sentence of 10 years, while those removed after an aggravated felony conviction could face up to 20 years.
Among the cases filed is that of Jesús Aguilar García, 34, from Mexico. He faces charges for being an illegal alien found in the U.S. after removal. Aguilar was previously removed from the U.S. in 2008 and again in 2011. His criminal record includes a state conviction for unlawful intercourse by a person over 21 with someone under 16 in 2023, resulting in two years' probation. Additionally, he has prior state convictions for felon possession of a firearm and carrying a concealed weapon with gang allegations, both from 2010, as well as possession of a controlled substance for sale that same year. Aguilar also has a federal conviction from 2013 related to reentry into the U.S., which led to a sentence of 30 months' imprisonment. Assistant United States Attorney John A. Balla is prosecuting this case.
The investigations are being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations.
A criminal complaint contains allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
These cases fall under Operation Take Back America, an initiative aimed at addressing illegal immigration and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). This operation combines resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
