Yesterday, United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced the indictment of a Honduran national for the reentry of a deported alien. Alex Saul Hernandez-Perez, 33, was charged in a legal move that could potentially place him behind bars for a period of up to two years. Documents from the court reveal that Hernandez-Perez was apprehended in St. Bernard Parish, after illegally reentering the U.S. on or around October 21, following a previous deportation to Honduras on June 13, 2019, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The charges against Hernandez-Perez could also include to possibly face a fine of up to $250,000, a term of supervised release lasting up to three years after the imprisonment period, and an extra mandatory special assessment fee of $100. Emphasizing the procedural stance at this point in the legal process, U.S. Attorney Evans reminded that "an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt," as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The actions that led to the indictment began with the investigative work of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Their efforts in this case were acknowledged by U.S. Attorney Evans. Meanwhile, Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit has been named to lead the prosecution efforts on this case, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.

According to a press release by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, these charges reflect an ongoing effort to enforce immigration laws within the jurisdiction. The particulars of this case signal the government's commitment to strictly penalize those who seek to unlawfully reenter the United States after deportation, serving as a deterrence to similarly situated individuals hoping to come back without proper authorization.