A Guatemalan national residing in New Bedford has been indicted for illegal reentry into the United States. Manuel Ruiz Luis, 52, faces charges of unlawful reentry after deportation. He was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on March 31, 2025, and is currently detained following an initial court appearance in Boston.
The indictment states that Ruiz Luis was first deported to Guatemala in April 1996 and allegedly returned to the U.S. illegally thereafter. He was removed again on March 28, 2012, but reportedly reentered without permission at a later date.
Court documents reveal that prior to his 2012 removal, Ruiz Luis had several criminal convictions, including operating under the influence and multiple instances of driving without a license.
If convicted of unlawful reentry of a deported alien, Ruiz Luis could face up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000. Deportation is expected upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable statutes.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra W. Amrhein from the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
It should be noted that all details in the charging documents are allegations at this stage. The defendant remains presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
