Deported Guatemalan Back in Kansas: Repeat Offender Indicted

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Another deported alien back on U.S. soil. Andres Marcelo De Leon-Perez, 25, faces federal charges after being indicted Wednesday for unlawfully returning to the United States a mere four months after being deported to Guatemala. U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister announced the indictment, but didn’t offer explanation as to how this keeps happening.

This isn’t De Leon-Perez’s first attempt to skirt federal immigration law. Court documents reveal he was previously deported on January 22, 2018, following an initial apprehension by the U.S. Border Patrol near Valentine, Texas on November 4, 2017. Flown back to Guatemala then, he apparently wasted no time plotting his return. The latest incident occurred on April 11, 2019, when he was discovered in Wyandotte County, Kansas.

The arrest came during a vehicle stop by the Kansas Highway Patrol in Paola, Kan., where De Leon-Perez was one of ten individuals detained. Details surrounding the stop and the other occupants remain scarce, raising questions about a potential larger operation. Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation, suggesting a coordinated effort to track repeat offenders.

If convicted of the charge of unlawfully re-entering the United States, De Leon-Perez could face up to two years in federal prison and a hefty fine of up to $250,000. Whether that will serve as a deterrent remains to be seen, given his history. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Krug is prosecuting the case.

In a separate, related indictment, Jordy Ulises Cody-Lemus, 20, also a citizen of Guatemala, is charged with the same offense – unlawfully re-entering the U.S. after deportation. He too was found in Wyandotte County on April 11, 2019, and faces the same potential penalties: up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Krug is also handling that prosecution.

As with all federal indictments, both De Leon-Perez and Cody-Lemus are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. These indictments represent allegations of criminal conduct only. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any developments, raising questions about the effectiveness of current deportation and border security measures.

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