MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – Manuel Lira-Aguilar, a 50-year-old Mexican national, received a sentence of time served today in federal court for the crime of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien. The case, prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, highlights the ongoing federal crackdown on illegal immigration and border security.
Lira-Aguilar, who also goes by Jesus Lira Aguilar, Manuel Edward Aguilar III, Jesus Lira Manuel, and Pero Marquez, was apprehended in Carter County, Oklahoma. Investigators with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Division, working alongside the Carter County Sheriff’s Office, determined that Lira-Aguilar had previously been removed from the United States on February 2, 2016. He was found back in the country on October 21, 2024, without authorization from the Secretary of Homeland Security.
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge on June 9, 2025. While the sentence amounts to time already served, it represents a clear message that unlawful reentry will not be tolerated. Federal authorities are aggressively pursuing individuals who repeatedly violate immigration laws, placing a strain on resources and potentially posing security risks.
This case is directly linked to Operation Take Back America, a sweeping nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice. The operation aims to aggressively combat illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and safeguard communities from violent crime. The DOJ is channeling resources from both the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood to achieve these goals.
Chief U.S. District Judge Ronald A. White presided over the hearing in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Cornell skillfully presented the case for the United States, securing the conviction and subsequent sentencing. While the sentence is lenient, the prosecution sends a firm signal regarding the enforcement of immigration laws.
The Grimy Times will continue to monitor federal prosecutions in Oklahoma and across the nation, exposing the underbelly of criminal activity and holding those responsible accountable. The focus on border security and dismantling TCOs remains a top priority for federal law enforcement, and we will be there to report every twist and turn of this ongoing battle.
Related Federal Cases
- Zamora-Pineda Gets Time Served for Illegal Reentry · Oklahoma
- Eligio-Salinas Gets Six Months for Illegal Reentry · Oklahoma
- Urbina-Ramirez Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry · Oklahoma
- Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry in Oklahoma · Oklahoma
- Repeat Offender Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry · Oklahoma
Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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