Honduran National Reyes-Cardona Indicted for Illegal Re-Entry

Mario Rene Reyes-Cardona, a 51-year-old Honduran national, is back in federal crosshairs — not for what he did inside the U.S., but for slipping back in at all. On November 18, 2021, a federal grand jury in New Orleans indicted Reyes-Cardona on one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien, a violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). His return to American soil, authorities say, never should have happened.

According to the indictment, Reyes-Cardona was formally deported from the United States in December 2013. Yet, federal prosecutors allege, he unlawfully reentered the country at some point after that date — a move that now carries serious federal consequences. Immigration violations may not involve guns or drugs on the surface, but they’re treated like felony breaches of national order in federal court.

If convicted, Reyes-Cardona faces a maximum prison term of up to two years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. He could also be slapped with up to one year of supervised release following any prison sentence. These penalties reflect the federal government’s hardline stance on repeat immigration offenders, especially those with prior removal orders.

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the primary federal agency tasked with tracking and apprehending individuals who reenter the country after deportation. ICE’s involvement underscores the seriousness with which federal authorities treat illegal reentry, particularly when ties to transnational movement are present.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K. D. Guice, Jr. is leading the prosecution, handling what federal prosecutors describe as a clear-cut case of unlawful return. U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans, who announced the charge, reminded the public that an indictment is not a conviction — only a formal accusation. Still, the burden now lies with Reyes-Cardona to contest the charge in court.

For now, Reyes-Cardona remains in federal custody as the legal machinery grinds forward. His case adds to the growing stack of immigration enforcement actions in Louisiana’s federal district — a border-adjacent jurisdiction that routinely processes illegal reentry cases as part of broader immigration crackdowns. The outcome could set the tone for similar prosecutions in the region.