Repeat Offenders Back in PA: Three Deported Aliens Indicted

HARRISBURG, PA – Three men with histories of deportation are facing federal charges in the Middle District of Pennsylvania for illegally re-entering the United States. The indictments, handed down by a grand jury on May 3, 2017, reveal a pattern of repeated violations of immigration law, raising questions about border security and enforcement.

Jose Cruz-Ramirez, 32, of Mexico, is the most frequent offender. Records show he was deported back to Mexico a staggering four times – October 2010, twice in December 2010, and again in February 2011. Despite these removals, Cruz-Ramirez allegedly slipped back into the U.S. sometime after February 2011, surfacing in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, where he actively evaded immigration officials. He’s now facing the consequences of his persistent disregard for the law.

Maynor Galiego-Mendoza, 45, of Guatemala, also ignored previous deportation orders. He was sent back to Guatemala on two occasions, in July 2009 and September 2010. Like Cruz-Ramirez, Galiego-Mendoza allegedly re-entered the U.S. after September 2010, this time being discovered in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, again avoiding inspection by immigration authorities. His actions demonstrate a clear pattern of flouting U.S. immigration laws.

Rounding out the trio is Edwin Mauricio-Flores, 35, of Honduras. Mauricio-Flores was deported to Honduras twice, in October 2009 and October 2011. He is accused of illegally re-entering the United States sometime after October 2011, and was located in York County, Pennsylvania, also actively avoiding official scrutiny. The repeated cycle of deportation and re-entry highlights the challenges faced by immigration enforcement.

If convicted, each of the defendants – Cruz-Ramirez, Galiego-Mendoza, and Mauricio-Flores – faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison, followed by a term of supervised release, and a financial fine. The cases are being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian G. McDonnell, with the investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

It’s crucial to remember that these are indictments, and all three men are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Sentencing, should guilt be established, will be determined by a judge considering federal sentencing statutes and guidelines, factoring in the specifics of each case. The statutory maximum is not a guarantee of the sentence that will be handed down.

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