Deported Guatemalan Back in RI, Faces Federal Charges

PROVIDENCE, RI – Rigoberto Cano Perez, 28, a national of Guatemala, is facing the consequences of brazenly flouting U.S. immigration law. Perez admitted in federal court to illegally reentering the United States just six months after being deported, a move that landed him back in the system and now faces sentencing.

According to Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom, Perez was initially removed from the country by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on November 20, 2024. His deportation followed a conviction in Rhode Island state court in December 2023 on charges of simple assault and/or battery, and disorderly conduct. Apparently, a clean slate wasn’t enough to keep him away.

The system flagged Perez when his fingerprints, entered into the National Crime Information Center, triggered an automated biometric match on May 12, 2025. ICE officers discovered he’d been arrested in Rhode Island the previous day – not for a simple immigration violation, but for violating a domestic no contact order and a charge of domestic disorderly conduct. The cycle of alleged offenses continues.

Perez’s plea comes amidst a broader federal crackdown on illegal immigration and transnational crime. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Taylor A. Dean and Peter I. Roklan, and was investigated by ICE. It’s part of “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide initiative aiming to eliminate cartels and protect communities from violent crime – a program that leverages resources from both the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The Department of Justice, through Operation Take Back America, is clearly signaling a zero-tolerance policy for those who attempt to circumvent the legal immigration process, especially those with prior criminal records. Perez will be sentenced on August 28, 2025. The federal district judge will determine the appropriate punishment, taking into account U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant statutory factors. Expect a harsh penalty.

Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing. This incident underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement in dealing with repeat offenders and the ongoing struggle to secure the border, while simultaneously addressing domestic violence concerns within communities. The full extent of Perez’s history and the details of the domestic incidents remain under investigation.

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