Two Mexican citizens, Jorge Velasquez-Sandoval and Filadelfo Garcia Garcia, were sentenced in recent weeks for illegally returning to the United States after previous deportations, according to an April 10 announcement by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd.
The sentencing of both men highlights ongoing concerns about repeat immigration violations and the challenges faced by law enforcement when local policies limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Floyd said these cases reflect broader trends related to sanctuary policies in Washington State.
“These cases typify what we are seeing as the sanctuary policies of Washington State prohibit local officials from cooperating with immigration enforcement,” Floyd said. “Mr. Velasquez-Sandoval was arrested in Snohomish County for domestic violence but was released before immigration agents could take him into custody. When he was arrested again for violating a protection order we were able to secure a judicial warrant for illegally re-entering the United States and keep him detained. Similarly, Mr. Garcia Garcia has multiple DUI convictions and even more arrests. This criminal alien was repeatedly released back into the community rather than turning him over to immigration authorities. It is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed because the State refuses to cooperate with federal law enforcement. My office will continue to use the tools we have available to ensure crimes are not committed by individuals who are in United States illegally.”
Records show that Velasquez-Sandoval was first encountered by law enforcement in Benton County Jail in 2007 and ordered removed from the country by an immigration judge in February 2009. He returned multiple times and was most recently taken into federal custody on February 5, 2026, after being arrested twice more—once for domestic violence assault and later for violating a protection order.
At his March 31 sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge James L. Robart said: “It is clear that Mr. Velasquez-Sandoval has no respect for the law... It looks to me that I’ve got somebody who’s essentially committing crimes every time he’s here.” Velasquez-Sandoval received a sentence of approximately 54 days served and will be turned over to immigration authorities for removal proceedings.
In a separate case, Garcia Garcia was sentenced on April 9 following his arrest in Lewis County last December while already having multiple DUI convictions dating back as far as 2014 as well as several other arrests related to impaired driving or ignition interlock violations over recent years.
During his sentencing hearing, U.S District Judge Jamal N Whitehead addressed him directly: “I shouldn’t have to tell you that drinking and driving is serious…. I take that seriously.” Prosecutors also cited concerns about past incidents including hit-and-run charges which were later dismissed under court agreements.
Garcia Garcia received a sentence of approximately 28 days served before being transferred into federal custody pending removal proceedings.
Both cases were investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) and prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Christine Cáceres.
