Two Mexican nationals have pleaded guilty to illegally re-entering the United States after multiple deportations. Alejandro Mejia Rios, who also went by Rigoberto Bonilla-Mejia and Juan Carlos Espinoza-Bonilla, was residing in North Charleston. Cesar Santana Salazar, also known as Miguel Santana-Hernandez and Cesar Santana, resided in Florida.
Evidence presented during the investigation showed that Mejia Rios, a citizen of Mexico, had been deported from the U.S. six times between 2006 and 2019. He faced convictions for illegal reentry and served prison sentences before each deportation. His latest arrest occurred on February 10 for assault and battery in Jasper County after prior arrests in Beaufort for driving offenses.
Santana Salazar was arrested on January 25 by City of Beaufort Police officers for driving without a license and under the influence. He had previously been convicted federally for illegal reentry and deported six times from 2007 to 2021.
United States District Judge David C. Norton accepted their guilty pleas. Mejia Rios could face up to ten years in federal prison with a fine of up to $250,000 before being deported again. Santana Salazar faces up to two years in federal prison and a similar fine before his deportation.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, which aims to address illegal immigration and transnational criminal activities. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigations, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Kittrell prosecuting.
