Mexican National Deported Multiple Times Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Illegally Reentering U.S.

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JULIO CESAR FERNANDEZ-SALAZAR, 45, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 18 months of imprisonment for illegally reentering the U.S. as a removed alien.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Fernandez-Salazar has used numerous aliases, including Julio Fernandez, Julio Cesar Salazar, J. Cesar Fernandez-Salazar, Paulo Cesar Salazar, Alejandro Lugo, Jorge Ortigoza, and Julio C. Fernandez-Salazar.  Fernandez-Salazar was first convicted of an immigration violation in October 2007 in the District of Arizona, was sentenced to 45 days of imprisonment, and was voluntarily returned to Mexico.  Prior to this conviction, he had already twice been removed from the United States and had twice returned illegally.  

Fernandez-Salazar again unlawfully returned to the U.S.  In June 2009, he was convicted in Tempe Municipal Court in Arizona of failure to appear and driving with a suspended license and was again deported to Mexico.  In July 2009, U.S. Border Patrol encountered and arrested Fernandez-Salazar near the U.S./Mexico border and he was again deported to Mexico.

Fernandez-Salazar illegally reentered the U.S. and, in October 2014, was convicted in Mesa Municipal Court in Mesa, Arizona, of driving under the influence.  In April 2017, he was convicted in Maricopa County, Arizona, of unlawful imprisonment and solicitation to commit misconduct involving weapons.  In April 2018, he was convicted in the U.S. District Court in Arizona of unlawful reentry and was again deported to Mexico.

On November 27, 2024, Fernandez-Salazar was arrested by the Connecticut State Police in Colchester and charged with illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and other offenses.  He was subsequently released on bond.

On July 18, 2025, the U.S. District Court in New Haven issued a criminal complaint charging Fernandez-Salazar with unlawful reentry.  He was located and arrested in Arizona on February 25, 2026, and has been detained since that date.  On May 21, 2026, he pleaded guilty in the District of Connecticut to unlawful reentry of a removed alien.

This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Lembo and Daniel P. Gordon.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.