Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
A Mexican national residing in Hampton, Iowa, has been sentenced to over a year in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after multiple removals. Fabian Arias-Ramirez, 39, received his sentence following a guilty plea on June 12, 2025, to one count of illegal reentry.
According to court records, Arias-Ramirez admitted he had previously been removed from the country and returned without permission from U.S. authorities. He was initially ordered removed in 2013 but did not leave until 2019. After his removal that year, he attempted to reenter the country several times and was removed each time. On April 22, 2025, immigration officials encountered him in Iowa Falls after he met with his probation officer following a second conviction for Operating While Intoxicated.
This marks Arias-Ramirez’s third federal conviction related to illegal immigration. He also has two misdemeanor convictions for illegal entry and state convictions for Operating While Intoxicated in both 2013 and 2024, as well as a conviction for Criminal Mischief.
United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams sentenced Arias-Ramirez in Cedar Rapids to twelve months and one day of imprisonment. Following his release from prison, he will serve a one-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
"This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) 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 prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt with investigation by Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Enforcement and Removal Operations.
