BUFFALO, N.Y. – The grim reaper of the federal justice system has claimed its prey: Jose Antonio Barcena-Ruiz, 41, a citizen and national of Mexico, finds himself ensnared in the clutches of the law for illegal re-entry into the United States. Today, U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo revealed that Barcena-Ruiz stands accused, with a maximum penalty looming of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
According to Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith, on May 31, 2025, Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were the grim reapers at a crossroads in Clarence, NY, where they apprehended Barcena-Ruiz along with three others. The Mexican national’s truth was laid bare when he claimed citizenship from Mexico but failed to produce legal documentation for his presence in the U.S. A records check revealed a haunting past: Barcena-Ruiz had been physically removed from the United States in 2008, twice in 2009, and in 2010.
This morning, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy, Barcena-Ruiz’s initial appearance marked the beginning of his legal purgatory, as he was detained without bail.
Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at ousting illegal immigration and protecting communities from violent crime, is behind this arrest. The investigation leading to the complaint against Barcena-Ruiz was spearheaded by Homeland Security Investigations under Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan and Immigration and Customs Enforcement under Acting Field Office Director Steven Kurzdorfer.
It’s important to remember that a defendant charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and Jose Antonio Barcena-Ruiz is presumed innocent until proven guilty. #DOJUSAONY
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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