Guatemalan National Admits Illegal Return to Oklahoma

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – Kender Jose Alvarez-Hernandez, a/k/a Kender Alvarez-Hernandez, 21, is facing federal time after admitting to illegally re-entering the United States. The Guatemalan national pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien earlier this week, a charge carrying a potential sentence of up to two years behind bars and a hefty $250,000.00 fine.

The case, prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, stems from an investigation that began when Alvarez-Hernandez was discovered within U.S. borders on June 17, 2025. Crucially, records show he had been previously removed from the country in 2025 – and returned without the express permission of the Secretary of Homeland Security, a clear violation of federal law.

Federal agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division, working in conjunction with the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, built the case against Alvarez-Hernandez. Details of how authorities initially identified and apprehended the defendant remain sealed, but the investigation clearly demonstrated his prior removal and subsequent unlawful return.

This prosecution is no isolated incident. It’s part of the larger Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative aimed at what officials are calling “repelling the invasion of illegal immigration” and dismantling transnational criminal organizations. The operation is a consolidation of resources from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood, signaling a heightened focus on border security and related criminal activity.

U.S. Magistrate Judge D. Edward Snow accepted Alvarez-Hernandez’s guilty plea and has ordered a presentence investigation report to be compiled. This report will provide the U.S. District Court Judge with crucial background information to consider when determining the final sentence. Alvarez-Hernandez remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service while awaiting sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dak T. Cohen and Richard J. Lorenz are handling the prosecution for the government. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing when it is announced. This case highlights the ongoing federal efforts to enforce immigration laws and target individuals who attempt to circumvent the legal process.

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