Northern New York Immigration Prosecutions on the Rise

ALBANY, NY – The Northern New York district is seeing a steady stream of misdemeanor immigration prosecutions, according to records released by the Department of Justice. All defendants face deportation by the Department of Homeland Security after serving their sentences. Grimy Times has compiled a rundown of cases from January and February 2018.

Haitian Man Jailed for Border Run – On January 2, Keetzall Baptiste, age 38, of Haiti, received a 23-day jail sentence after pleading guilty to illegally entering the United States from Canada. Baptiste confessed to crossing the border roughly half a mile east of the Champlain Port of Entry on December 18, 2017. Border Patrol agents apprehended him as he walked south, away from the crossing.

Uzbek Pair Face Consequences – Two citizens of Uzbekistan, Bahodir Rustamov, age 38, and Davlat Ahmedov, age 29, were sentenced on January 11 and January 18 respectively, for illegal entry. Rustamov received 19 days in jail, while Ahmedov got 27. Both men admitted to crossing the border approximately four miles west of the Mooers Port of Entry shortly after midnight on December 30, 2017. Agents found them hiding in the woods about an hour after they crossed.

Mali Citizen’s Short-Lived Freedom – Hacim Oumar Idar Rachid, age 28, of Mali, was sentenced to 30 days in jail on January 16 after pleading guilty to illegally entering the U.S. Rachid admitted to crossing two miles west of the Champlain Port of Entry on December 29, 2017. He was arrested while being driven away from the border. Separately, Dan-Stefan Cirpaci, age 29, of Romania, was sentenced to 30 days on January 25 for the same crime, admitting he crossed approximately one mile west of the Churubusco Port of Entry on January 2. Cirpaci was found in a vehicle near the border.

Haitian Gets Time Served, Fine – Idoinien Saint Fleur, age 44, of Haiti, received time served (51 days) and a $500 fine on January 25 after pleading guilty to illegal entry from Canada. He confessed to crossing approximately one-quarter mile east of the Champlain Port of Entry on December 5, 2017, and was found attempting to leave the border area. On February 6, Sebastien Cote-Champagne, age 31, of Canada, was sentenced to 42 days for illegally entering the U.S. from Canada, admitting to crossing 1.5 miles west of the Champlain Port of Entry on January 23. He was apprehended walking south from the border.

Romanians and Guatemalans Also Sentenced – February 6 saw Ciuciu Ximena, age 42, of Romania, sentenced to 20 days in jail and a $2,500 fine after pleading guilty to illegal entry from Canada, admitting she crossed half a mile west of the Rouses Point Port of Entry on January 25. She was found walking toward a waiting vehicle. Finally, on February 13, Amilcar Tuch-Xinico, age 26, of Guatemala, received 15 days in jail, and Jose Morales-Zet, age 21, of Guatemala, received 22 days, both for pleading guilty to illegally entering the United States. These prosecutions highlight the ongoing efforts of Border Patrol and federal prosecutors to control the border and enforce immigration laws.

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