A Dominican national, Celso Herrera-De Los Santos, has pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of illegal reentry after previously being deported twice from the United States. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Herrera-De Los Santos, 49, was previously deported in 2011 and again in 2017. He is currently detained at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) in Rhode Island on state charges related to possession with intent to deliver cocaine.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement became aware of Herrera-De Los Santos following his arrest on May 22, 2025, during a routine screening at ACI. Following his guilty plea, he faces sentencing scheduled for October 23, 2025. The sentence will be determined by a federal district judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Authorities have lodged a deportation detainer against him.
Assistant United States Attorneys Peter I. Roklan and Dulce Donovan are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative led by the Department of Justice that aims to address illegal immigration and target criminal organizations through collaboration between programs such as the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
"This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN)."