Jose Manuel Salazar Estrada Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-Entry

Jose Manuel Salazar Estrada, 38, of Mexico, pleaded guilty to illegally reentering the United States after being deported following an aggravated felony conviction, federal prosecutors announced today. The charge, illegal re-entry after deportation, carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The Buffalo, New York case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Lamarque and Scott S. Allen, who laid bare a pattern of defiance. On December 7, 2016, Estrada was intercepted at the Peace Bridge port of entry after turning around mid-crossing, failing to reach Canada. When confronted, he lied—claiming to be a U.S. citizen born in Arizona. Standard database checks exposed the lie: Estrada is a Mexican national with five prior deportations on record.

The most recent removal occurred in 2015, after Estrada was convicted in Arizona of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens for profit—an offense classified as an aggravated felony under federal law. That conviction triggered a lifetime ban from reentry into the United States, a prohibition he violated when caught at the bridge.

Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. made the announcement, underscoring the federal crackdown on repeat immigration offenders with criminal histories. The investigation was conducted by United States Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Hilmey, whose agents flagged Estrada’s fraudulent claim and history within minutes.

Before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo, Estrada entered a guilty plea that seals his return to federal custody. The judge will determine his sentence at a hearing scheduled for May 4, 2017, at 12:00 p.m. in Buffalo federal court. Prosecutors are expected to push for the maximum penalty given the severity and repetition of his offenses.

This case reflects a broader federal effort to target non-citizens with criminal records who repeatedly circumvent deportation orders. Estrada’s five removals highlight systemic challenges at border enforcement points—and the dangers posed when violent or organized crime-linked individuals reenter undetected.

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