Federal Cases Target Illegal Reentry of Deported Central Americans

Two Central American nationals, Jose De Leon Ventura from Guatemala and Erik Roberto Machado-Mencia from Honduras, have been charged with illegally reentering the United States after prior deportations. De Leon Ventura pleaded guilty in Boston federal court to unlawful reentry after being deported in 2019, with sentencing scheduled for July 14; he was discovered following a DUI arrest in 2023. Similarly, Machado-Mencia was indicted in New Orleans for reentering the U.S. without authorization after his 2019 deportation. Both face potential penalties of up to two years in prison, fines up to $250,000, and supervised release, followed by deportation. Machado-Mencia's case is part of Operation Take Back America, a federal initiative targeting illegal immigration and associated criminal activities, highlighting ongoing enforcement efforts. These cases illustrate the federal government's stringent approach to immigration violations amid broader debates on policy and enforcement.