Following a collaborative operation between the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and federal prosecutors in the Central District of California, 32 individuals have been charged with illegal re-entry into the United States after removal. This enforcement effort comes as part of Operation Take Back America, aimed at curbing illegal immigration and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, as mentioned in an announcement from the Justice Department.
The consequences for the charged individuals are severe, with possible sentences ranging up to two years for those found in the U.S. after removal, and escalating up to a maximum of 20 years for those with prior aggravated felony convictions. In the mix of those charged, the report indicates that various defendants had convictions for serious felonies before their deportation, including lewd and lascivious acts on minors.
One of the cases highlighted by prosecutors involves Misael Alberto Feliciano, a 29-year-old Mexican national who was previously charged with "lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14," a conviction that carried a three-year sentence in state prison. According to a press release from the Central District of California, Feliciano was taken into custody on allegations of controlled substance possession and was charged federally after his recent arrest in West Covina.
Another case set to proceed is that of Oscar Eduardo Ortega, 43, also from Mexico, who, after serving part of a 10-year state sentence for a fatal DUI, must now contend with up to an additional 20 years of federal time if convicted on his current immigration charges. As reported, his criminal history consists not only of tragic vehicular homicide but also felony theft and vehicle tampering, weaving a narrative of repeated and serious offenses.
For in-depth information on the cases and the broader Operation Take Back America, the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of California, through their Public Information Officer Ciaran McEvoy, has provided contacts and resources to the public and the media.
