Oscar Leo Hernandez Sanchez, a 38-year-old citizen of Mexico, has pleaded guilty to illegal re-entry after being previously removed from the United States. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara in Buffalo, New York. Following his guilty plea, Hernandez Sanchez was sentenced to time served and subsequently transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith explained that Hernandez Sanchez did not have legal status in the United States and had been removed from the country in December 2011. On June 26, 2025, he was found in Erie County, New York by United States Customs and Border Protection officers without any documentation permitting him to be in the country.
"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," according to a statement included with the announcement.
The investigation leading to this outcome was conducted by Customs and Border Protection under Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy.
