A Honduran national, Melvin Jose Tejada Morillo, 35, has been handed down a prison sentence for unlawfully re-entering the United States after a previous deportation. The Acting United States Attorney, Michael M. Simpson, confirmed Morillo's sentence of 18 months' incarceration followed by one year of supervised release, as stated on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana's official website. The court also mandated Morillo to pay a $100 special assessment fee.
According to court documents, Morillo had reentered the U.S. after being deported on March 21, 2016. His situation was further complicated due to a prior felony conviction, which contributed to enhancing his sentencing penalties. This case forms a part of the broader initiative named 'Operation Take Back America', which aims to aggressively fight illegal immigration and dismantle criminal organizations causing violence in communities. This initiative seems to strive to robustly coordinate the full scale of Justice Department resources in this battle against illegal entry.
The sweep of Operation Take Back America integrates efforts from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) into a single, targeted surge. Morillo's case was investigated by the United States Homeland Security Investigations, with Assistant United States Attorney Tiwana Wright of the Financial Crimes Unit leading the prosecution efforts, according to the same press release.
Morillo's story is just one instance of the impact of Operation Take Back America on individuals caught in the crosshairs of immigration enforcement. By targeting the re-entry of deported persons, especially those with criminal records, the Department of Justice appears to solidify its stance on using all available law enforcement means to secure the nation's borders.
