Jose Jesus Camacho-Jaramillo, Illegal Reentry of a Deported Alien, North Carolina 2024

Three Mexican nationals with extensive deportation histories were hit with federal charges this week after being caught back on American soil — a move that could land each behind bars for up to two years. Jose Jesus Camacho-Jaramillo, 29; Agustin Nunez-Leonardo, 20; and Lorenzo Orocio-Cruz, 35 — all deported multiple times previously — now face indictment on charges of Illegal Reentry of a Deported Alien in the Eastern District of North Carolina.

The indictments, handed down by a federal grand jury in Raleigh, expose a pattern of repeated border violations. Camacho-Jaramillo, who had been deported twice before and previously convicted of Unlawful Entry, was found back in Johnston County. Nunez-Leonardo, already removed three times and with the same prior conviction, was picked up in Wake County. Orocio-Cruz, also deported twice and with a prior Unlawful Entry conviction, was located in Granville County — all now sitting in the crosshairs of federal immigration law.

If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum of two years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any sentence. These penalties apply despite the non-violent nature of the charge — a reminder that illegal reentry after deportation is a serious federal offense, especially when repeated like a criminal echo.

The cases are being aggressively pursued by U.S. Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr., who emphasized the federal government’s commitment to prosecuting individuals who repeatedly defy immigration orders. ‘These indictments are not about status — they’re about lawbreaking,’ said a DOJ spokesperson. ‘Each of these men was ordered out of the country, and each chose to come back, again and again.’

Investigations were led by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations, agencies that have intensified operations across North Carolina in recent months. The arrests highlight the ongoing pressure on federal law enforcement to track and prosecute repeat immigration offenders, particularly in regions seeing increased enforcement activity.

It’s critical to note: the charges are allegations. Jose Jesus Camacho-Jaramillo, Agustin Nunez-Leonardo, and Lorenzo Orocio-Cruz are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. But with deportation records stacking up like rap sheets, the justice system now has its chance to deliver a verdict.

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