Honduran National Gets 3 Months for Illegal Return

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Jose Manuel Ramos-Godoy, 42, a citizen of Honduras with a history of ignoring U.S. immigration law, received a three-month federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to illegal re-entry. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced the sentencing following a hearing before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr., marking another small victory in a larger, increasingly desperate battle to control the border.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Fauzia K. Mattingly laid out the facts: Ramos-Godoy isn’t just an undocumented alien, he’s a repeat offender. He was physically removed from the United States not once, but twice – in July 2006 and again in September 2014 – under official orders of removal. Apparently, those orders weren’t enough to keep him away. On May 13, 2025, Border Patrol agents found Ramos-Godoy operating a vehicle in a hotel parking lot in Amherst, Erie County, New York, without a shred of documentation proving legal residency.

The arrest wasn’t a random encounter. It’s part of “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide initiative touted by the Department of Justice. The DOJ claims the operation aims to “repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.” Whether it’s actually making a dent remains to be seen, but the rhetoric is escalating.

The investigation leading to Ramos-Godoy’s conviction was handled by the U.S. Border Patrol, with Patrol Agent in Charge Martin B. Coombs overseeing the operation. While three months in federal prison might seem a light sentence to some, it’s a clear signal that repeated violations of immigration law will be prosecuted – even if the larger issues driving the flow of illegal immigration remain largely unaddressed.

Ramos-Godoy’s case is a microcosm of a much larger problem. The constant cycle of deportation and re-entry highlights the limitations of current enforcement strategies. While authorities celebrate convictions like this one, the underlying issues of economic desperation and lack of opportunity driving individuals to risk everything for a chance at a better life in the U.S. continue to fester.

Grimy Times will continue to track the progress – or lack thereof – of “Operation Take Back America” and report on the individuals caught in its crosshairs. The border isn’t just a line on a map; it’s a pressure point, and the consequences of its instability are felt in communities across the country. # # # #

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