A Mexican national living in Longview, Texas, has been sentenced to federal prison for illegally returning to the United States after being deported multiple times. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs of the Eastern District of Texas.
Jose Refugio Jara-Palafox, 45, pleaded guilty to illegal reentry following removal and received a 16-month sentence from U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker on August 21, 2025. After serving his sentence, Jara-Palafox will be deported.
Court records show that Jara-Palafox was arrested in Gregg County on August 13, 2024. Authorities discovered he had previously been deported five times and had several convictions, including two for driving while intoxicated (DWI), indecent exposure, leaving the scene of an accident, and presenting false documentation at a port of entry.
"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)."
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security-Immigration and Customs Enforcement with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.
