U.S. Department
of Justice
Press Release
Mexican National Guilty of Illegal Re-entry
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ActingUnited States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that SANTIAGO PUENTE-GARCIA (“PUENTE-GARCIA”), age 25, a native of Mexico, pled guilty on April 11, 2025 for illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to the indictment, PUENTE-GARCIA was previously removed from the United States on February 4, 2022. He was later found in the Eastern District of Louisiana on October 29, 2024 and had not received permission from the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reenter.
PUENTE-GARCIA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two (2) years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk set sentencing for
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jon Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Contact
Shane M. Jones
Public Information Officer
United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana
United States Department of Justice
Updated April 24, 2025
Topic
Immigration
Component