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New Orleans, LA – Miguel Angel Lopez-Mejia, 34, walked out of a federal courtroom on March 17, 2026, having served his time for jumping the border. Lopez-Mejia, a citizen of Honduras, admitted to illegally sneaking back into the United States after being kicked out on July 15, 2022.
Federal Judge Darrel James Papillion handed down a sentence of time served, followed by one year of supervised release and a $100 fine. But the real kicker? Lopez-Mejia is now in the hands of Customs and Border Protection, ready to be shipped back to Honduras.
The bust is part of the Department of Justice’s “Operation Take Back America,” a broad-stroke initiative promising a full-court press against illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations. The feds are touting the operation as a way to eliminate cartels and protect communities – a hefty claim, but one they’re sticking to.
CBP did the legwork on the case, while Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Frederick Veters, Jr. handled the prosecution.