Lucas Ramirez-Hernandez, Unlawful Reentry, MS 2024

GULFPORT, MS – Three men – Lucas Ramirez-Hernandez, 28, of Guatemala; Jose Valdez-Santana, 36, of Mexico; and Angel Martinez-Garcia, 19, of Mexico – admitted today to a federal crime they knew carried serious consequences: unlawful reentry into the United States after being previously deported. The guilty pleas were entered before Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr., and represent the culmination of an investigation sparked by a routine traffic stop that revealed a larger smuggling operation.

The case began on April 4, 2019, when a Biloxi police officer pulled over a Dodge Caravan minivan speeding along Interstate 10. Inside, the officer found eight individuals, including the driver – himself an illegal alien from Honduras – and seven passengers. Faced with a language barrier, the officer wisely contacted the Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Lightning Operations Center. Two Homeland Security Investigations Special Agents quickly arrived on scene, confirming that all eight occupants were in the country illegally. They were taken to the U.S. Border Patrol office in Gulfport for processing.

The investigation quickly revealed the group was being smuggled from Houston, Texas, destined for Maryland. But it was the backgrounds of three of those passengers that truly landed them in hot water. Ramirez-Hernandez had been previously removed from the United States on January 29, 2019 – barely two months before his latest illegal crossing. Martinez-Garcia was a seasoned repeat offender, previously deported on October 13, 2015, and again on December 13, 2018. Valdez-Santana had been removed on April 26, 2017. Their attempts to circumvent U.S. immigration law proved futile.

U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst didn’t mince words, praising the collaborative effort that brought these individuals to justice. “This case highlights the importance of cooperation between local, state, and federal law enforcement,” he stated. The Biloxi Police Department, Department of Homeland Security, Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Border Patrol, and Homeland Security Investigations all played crucial roles in unraveling the smuggling operation and identifying the repeat offenders.

Each of the three defendants now faces a potential maximum sentence of 2 years in prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and a hefty fine of up to $250,000. Judge Guirola has scheduled sentencing for August 20, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. But the penalties don’t end there. Following completion of any prison sentence, each man will be subject to removal from the United States, a consequence they were well aware of when they chose to re-enter the country illegally.

Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris is prosecuting the case. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing. This incident serves as a stark reminder that illegally re-entering the United States after deportation carries significant legal repercussions, and those who attempt it will be held accountable. The flow of illegal immigration continues to strain resources and challenge the integrity of the border, and federal agencies remain committed to addressing the issue.