Julio Cesár Fernández-Salazar, Unlawful Reentry, Connecticut 2026

A federal grand jury in New Haven, Connecticut, has returned an indictment charging Julio Cesár Fernández-Salazar, 44, a citizen of Mexico, with unlawful reentry of a removed alien.

According to court documents, Fernández-Salazar has used numerous aliases, including Julio Fernandez, Julio Cesar Salazar, J. Cesar Fernandez-Salazar, Paulo Cesar Salazar, Alejandro Lugo, Jorge Ortigoza, and Julio C. Fernandez-Salazar.

Fernández-Salazar was first convicted of an immigration violation in October 2007 in the District of Arizona, where he was sentenced to 45 days of imprisonment. He was then voluntarily returned to Mexico.

In June 2009, Fernández-Salazar returned to the US and was convicted in Tempe Municipal Court in Arizona of failure to appear and driving with a suspended license. He was subsequently deported to Mexico.

Fernández-Salazar allegedly reentered the US and, in April 2017, was convicted in Maricopa County of unlawful imprisonment and solicitation to commit misconduct involving weapons. In April 2018, he was convicted in the U.S. District Court in Arizona of unlawful reentry and was again deported to Mexico.

Fernández-Salazar was arrested by the Connecticut State Police in Colchester on November 27, 2024, and charged with illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and other offenses. He was subsequently released on bond.

If convicted of the charge of unlawful reentry, Fernández-Salazar faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Lembo.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the government 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.

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