Santos Vasquez-Ortiz, Unlawful Re-entry, Illinois 2025
A 41-year-old foreign national residing in Illinois has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for unlawfully re-entering the United States after previously being deported.
SANTOS VASQUEZ-ORTIZ, a native of Guatemala, was unlawfully present in the United States when he was arrested in 2021 for aggravated criminal sexual assault in McHenry County, Illinois. He was later convicted of the offense in state court. Vasquez-Ortiz had been deported from the United States in 2008 and did not receive authorization from the U.S. government to return.
Vasquez-Ortiz pleaded guilty earlier this year in federal court in Rockford to one count of unlawful re-entry after removal. U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston imposed the two-year federal prison sentence on November 17, 2025.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew J. Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ladd.
Vasquez-Ortiz had been previously deported from the United States in 2008 and did not have authorization to re-enter the country. His arrest in 2021 was a result of his unlawful presence in the United States.
The case is a reminder of the consequences of re-entering the United States after being deported. Vasquez-Ortiz's sentence serves as a warning to others who may be considering re-entering the country without proper authorization.
Defendant: Santos Vasquez-Ortiz
Crime: Unlawful re-entry after removal
City and State: Rockford, Illinois
Date: November 17, 2025
Sentence: Two years in federal prison
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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