Luis Godinez-Urbizo, Illegal Reentry, Iowa 2018

Luis Godinez-Urbizo, a 35-year-old citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to 80 days in federal prison on March 1, 2018, for illegally reentering the United States after prior deportation. The conviction marks the latest federal crackdown on repeat immigration violators in eastern Iowa, where immigration enforcement has intensified in recent years.

Godinez-Urbizo, who was residing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, pleaded guilty on January 11, 2018, to one count of illegal reentry into the United States, a felony under federal law. He admitted in court that he had been formally deported on October 17, 2017, and knowingly returned without authorization just weeks later—on November 20, 2017.

His return was short-lived. On November 28, 2017, immigration officers intercepted Godinez-Urbizo during a routine traffic stop in Cedar Rapids. At that time, he had no legal documentation permitting reentry, triggering immediate federal charges. The swift arrest underscores the coordination between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.

U.S. District Court Judge Linda R. Reade handed down the 80-day sentence in Cedar Rapids federal court. In addition to prison time, Godinez-Urbizo must serve a one-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system, meaning he must serve every day of his sentence minus good behavior credits.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO). Federal records confirm the case file number as 17-CR-95, with court documents accessible through the Northern District of Iowa’s electronic filing system.

Following the completion of his sentence, Godinez-Urbizo will be turned over to U.S. Marshals and then transferred to immigration custody for potential removal proceedings. The case highlights the federal government’s zero-tolerance policy for illegal reentry, particularly among individuals previously ordered deported.

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