Alex Ben Chipin, Illegally Reentering the United States, New York 2023

Illegally Reentering the United States

Syracuse, NY

On September 4, 2023, federal law enforcement officers detained 57 individuals who were illegally present in the United States at their place of employment in Cayuga County, New York. The operation resulted in the arrest of five individuals who face charges for illegally reentering the United States after prior removal.

The five defendants are:

• Alex Ben Chipin, a/k/a Alex Ben-Chiping, a/k/a Alex Bing-Chiping, a/k/a Antonio Lopez-Mendez, age 39, of Guatemala
• Argentina Juarez-Lopez, age 50, of Guatemala
• Luis Jom-Morales, age 27, of Guatemala
• Gregorio Baldemar Ramirez-Perez, age 45, of Guatemala
• Francisco Salvardo-Mora, age 22, of Mexico

Each defendant is charged separately with illegally reentering the United States, which carries a maximum term of 2 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 1 year.

The remaining 52 individuals were detained administratively pending immigration proceedings. The operation was a collaborative effort between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York announced the charges against the five defendants. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry.

The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The charges against the defendants are merely accusations. The outcome of the case will depend on the evidence presented in court.

The operation highlights the importance of worksite enforcement in ensuring that employers comply with immigration laws and do not exploit unauthorized workers. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with law enforcement agencies to protect the rights of workers and uphold U.S. laws.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndny/pr/worksite-enforcement-operation-leads-five-criminal-arrests-and-more-50