United States Attorney David Metcalf announced on Apr. 30 that three foreign nationals were sentenced this month for illegally reentering the United States after having previously been deported.
The cases highlight ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address repeat illegal entry into the country and enforce immigration laws. Each individual was prosecuted separately and received sentences based on their prior history of removal and circumstances of their latest arrest.
Demer Ramirez-Diaz, also known as Demer Neftali Ramirez Diaz, a 38-year-old Guatemalan national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Paul S. Diamond to 16 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. After serving his sentence, he will be removed from the United States again. According to the announcement, Ramirez-Diaz had previously been removed from the U.S. four times between 2009 and 2022 following arrests in Arizona, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania. He was recognized last September by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, who took him into custody without incident.
Ubdulio Santiago-Morales, a 32-year-old Mexican national, was sentenced by Chief Judge Wendy Beetlestone to time served—approximately three months—for illegal reentry. Santiago-Morales first entered unlawfully in August 2011 and had subsequently been removed twice more before being arrested last year in Montgomery County for unrelated charges. He failed to appear at a court hearing before being taken into federal custody earlier this year.
Efrain Villegas Lopez, a Mexican national aged 35, also received a sentence of time served—about three months—from Judge Catherine Henry for illegal reentry after having previously been removed from Texas in June 2012. ICE learned about his presence after he was arrested by local police earlier this year.
“These cases are 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,” Metcalf said.
The investigations were conducted by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations with prosecutions led by Assistant United States Attorneys J. Andrew Jenemann, Nancy Potts, and Robert Schopf.
