Juan Salamanca-Chavez Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry

Juan Salamanca-Chavez, a 32-year-old native of Mexico, pleaded guilty today to illegally reentering the United States after prior deportation — a federal crime carrying up to two years behind bars and a $250,000 fine. The guilty plea was entered in the Eastern District of Louisiana, where Salamanca-Chavez was apprehended just months after being formally removed from the country.

The charge stems from a one-count Indictment filed under Title 18, United States Code, Section 1326(a), which criminalizes the reentry of removed aliens without permission from the U.S. Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. According to court records, Salamanca-Chavez was officially deported on February 9, 2016 — then found back on American soil in the Eastern District of Louisiana by October 28 of that same year.

No evidence was presented that Salamanca-Chavez had obtained legal authorization to return. His reappearance on U.S. soil triggered an immediate investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which moved swiftly to confirm his identity, immigration history, and unlawful status.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite, who announced the plea, credited ICE with executing a precise and by-the-book case. “This conviction sends a clear message,” Polite said in a statement. “Individuals who are removed and choose to return illegally will be prosecuted.” The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jon Maestri.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 5, 2017, before United States District Court Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle. While the maximum penalty is two years in federal prison, actual sentencing will depend on federal guidelines, criminal history, and courtroom conduct.

The case underscores the ongoing federal push to prosecute repeat immigration offenders, particularly in border-adjacent jurisdictions like Louisiana. With ICE maintaining a tight grip on enforcement, illegal reentry remains one of the most frequently prosecuted federal crimes in the country.