Defendant Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the US

A 43-year-old Mexican national pleaded guilty to illegally reentering the United States after a prior removal.

Juan Mendez-Morales, 43, was stopped by police for speeding in Portland, Maine, on October 22, 2025. When a United States Border Patrol Agent arrived, Mendez-Morales admitted that he was a citizen of Mexico and had no immigration documents allowing him to be in the United States.

Mendez-Morales was previously removed from the U.S. in October 2013 pursuant to an order from an immigration judge. The United States Border Patrol investigated the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that aims to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Mendez-Morales faces a maximum prison term of two years and a fine up to $250,000. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The guilty plea was entered into in U.S. District Court in Portland, Maine. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat illegal immigration and protect the communities of Maine and the United States.

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