A federal grand jury in New Haven indicted Julio Cesar Fernandez-Salazar, a 44-year-old citizen of Mexico, on March 17 for unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed, according to an announcement by David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, on Mar. 18.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address illegal reentry into the country and related criminal activity. Fernandez-Salazar has a history of prior convictions and deportations under various aliases including Julio Fernandez, Julio Cesar Salazar, J. Cesar Fernandez-Salazar, Paulo Cesar Salazar, Alejandro Lugo, Jorge Ortigoza, and Julio C. Fernandez-Salazar.
Court documents allege that Fernandez-Salazar was first convicted of an immigration violation in October 2007 in Arizona and subsequently returned to Mexico. He was deported again in June 2009 following convictions for failure to appear and driving with a suspended license in Tempe Municipal Court. In July 2009, he was arrested near the U.S./Mexico border by U.S. Border Patrol and deported once more.
Further allegations state that after illegally reentering the U.S., Fernandez-Salazar was convicted in April 2017 in Maricopa County of unlawful imprisonment and solicitation to commit misconduct involving weapons. He faced another conviction for unlawful reentry in April 2018 in Arizona federal court before being deported again.
On November 27, 2024, Connecticut State Police arrested him in Colchester on charges including illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and drugs; he was released on bond afterward. A criminal complaint was issued against him by the U.S. District Court in New Haven on July 18, 2025; he was located and arrested in Arizona on February 25, 2026.
If convicted of unlawful reentry, Fernandez-Salazar faces up to twenty years imprisonment. "U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt." The investigation is being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations; Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Lembo is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration as well as transnational criminal organizations.
