A 39-year-old Ecuadorian national, Lucas Celas Saula, has been arrested and charged with illegal re-entry into the United States. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo.
According to Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith, Saula was encountered by law enforcement on September 7, 2025, at a retailer in Cheektowaga, New York. A check of his vehicle records revealed that he had previously been ordered removed from the country in November 2014 and is a citizen and national of Ecuador. Officers questioned Saula, who did not possess any documents authorizing him to be or remain in the United States.
“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 the press release.
Saula appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and remains detained pending further proceedings.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Border Patrol under Customs and Border Protection leadership, directed by Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy.
