Molina-Echavarria Sentenced for Illegal Reentry After DUI Arrest

HARRISBURG, PA – In a chilling reminder of the nation’s immigration laws, Jose Miguel Molina-Echavarria, a 40-year-old citizen of Mexico, was sentenced yesterday to time-served, nearly four months in prison, by United States District Judge Joseph F. Saporito, Jr., for illegal reentry into the country. The sentence comes after Molina-Echavarria was apprehended on May 18, 2025, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and related charges.

Molina-Echavarria had been previously removed from the United States in 2024 following a court order. His plea of guilty to illegal reentry came before his sentencing, marking a swift legal resolution to the case. The defendant now faces the prospect of deportation as an ICE detainer is in place against him.

Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus announced that the federal grand jury indicted Molina-Echavarria after his arrest. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francis P. Sempa and Tatum Wilson were instrumental in prosecuting the case, which was investigated by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations.

This conviction is part of Operation Take Back America, a sweeping nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and safeguarding communities from violent crime. The operation leverages the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) resources.

Despite his federal sentence, Molina-Echavarria still grapples with pending state charges in Franklin County. The case serves as a stark example of the consequences faced by those who flout U.S. immigration laws while endangering public safety.

The grim saga of Jose Miguel Molina-Echavarria underscores the ongoing struggle against illegal reentry and the relentless efforts of federal law enforcement to protect American citizens from criminal elements seeking to exploit our borders.