Mexican National Nabbed for 10th Illegal Reentry in HI

HONOLULU – The grim reaper of justice has meted out a severe penalty to Navor Salas Cruz, 52, a Mexican national who was sentenced yesterday to 54 months in federal lockup for illegal reentry after ten prior removals and three felony convictions. This is no ordinary sentence; it’s the latest chapter in Cruz’s sordid saga of lawlessness.

Court documents reveal that Salas Cruz became a familiar face to law enforcement when he was nabbed on Kauai Island in 2024 for operating a vehicle while under the influence. But his transgressions are far from new. Between 1997 and 2020, Cruz has been removed from the United States back to Mexico ten times.

But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Salas Cruz’s rap sheet reads like a horror story: three prior DUIs, fourteen contempt of court arrests, abuse of a household member, assault, violation of a protective order, and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

At sentencing, U.S. District Judge Derrick K. Watson minced no words. He dismissed Cruz’s claims of understanding the law as hollow. “It’s clear you do not respect our laws,” he said, noting that Cruz’s extensive criminal history has put the public at risk. “You have learned precious little over the last 25 years.”

“This prosecution and lengthy sentence deliver the clear message that when you come to Hawaii as an illegal alien and repeatedly violate our nation’s laws, you will be federally prosecuted and sentenced to a long period of imprisonment,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “We will not tolerate those who exploit our borders and endanger our citizens.”

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren W.K. Ching leading the prosecution. This sentencing is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that seeks to repel illegal immigration and protect communities from violent crime.

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