A Mexican national, Enrique Hernandez-Rodriguez, 51, was sentenced to time served and ordered to be remanded to U.S. Border Patrol after pleading guilty to illegal reentry into the United States. The sentencing took place in Great Falls, with Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presiding.
According to court documents, Hernandez-Rodriguez was found near Chinook, Montana on July 26, 2025. He had previously been removed from the United States in January 2021 and did not have permission to reenter the country. His record shows a history of criminal and immigration violations since 2007, including convictions for negligent driving in Washington and driving with a revoked license in North Dakota, as well as two prior removals from the U.S.
The incident began when the Montana Highway Patrol stopped Hernandez-Rodriguez east of Chinook and requested assistance from Border Patrol agents. Upon arrival, agents confirmed that he had no legal immigration documents permitting him to be in the country. Hernandez-Rodriguez admitted his Mexican citizenship and acknowledged his unlawful presence in the United States.
The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana. The investigation involved both the U.S. Border Patrol and Montana Highway Patrol.
"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)."
