A federal grand jury has indicted Vanessa Yalixa Munoz-Baque, a 31-year-old citizen of Ecuador, on charges of illegally reentering the United States after being previously removed. The announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, alongside Acting Field Office Director Jeremy Bacon from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Baltimore office.
According to the indictment, Munoz-Baque was apprehended by local law enforcement in Frederick, Maryland on September 11, 2024. Authorities stated that she had been previously removed to Ecuador in 2023 and did not have permission from either the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to return to the United States.
Her arrest followed a service call to local police in Frederick County. Officials emphasized that an indictment is not a finding of guilt and that individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The case falls under Operation Take Back America, which is described as a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and dismantling criminal organizations.
U.S. Attorney Hayes expressed appreciation for ICE-ERO’s role in the investigation and acknowledged First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason D. Medinger for prosecuting the case.
Further information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office can be found at justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
