Mexican Citizen Sentenced for Illegal Entry Following Drug Convictions

RICHMOND, Va. – A Mexican citizen most recently residing in Westmoreland County was sentenced today to three years in prison for illegal reentry following removal for a felony conviction.

“Morales-Ramirez was convicted of a sexual assault felony in 2000 as an illegal alien,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “He illegally reentered a second time and proceeded to commit more crimes. He clearly has no regard for our nation’s laws and borders and he poses a threat to our public safety. We are committed to criminal immigration enforcement and will continue to prioritize these cases.”

According to court documents, in 2000, Miguel Morales-Ramirez, 42, illegally entered the United States. Following a 2000 felony conviction for sexual assault, Morales-Ramirez was removed. In 2007, he illegally reentered the United States intending to stay permanently. Once in Virginia, Morales-Ramirez committed several driving violations, and in 2017, Morales-Ramirez was charged and convicted of drug offenses in Westmoreland County.

“ICE focuses its immigration enforcement efforts on removing public safety threats like Morales-Ramirez from our communities,” said Russell Hott, Field Office Director for ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Washington. “Let today’s sentence serve as a lesson. ICE will not permit individuals to game our immigration system. If you violate the nation’s immigration laws, you will be prosecuted for your crimes.

ICE arrested Morales-Ramirez as part of Operation Eagle’s Shield in July 2018. This operation targeted notable threats to public safety throughout Virginia and Washington, D.C. that resulted in the arrests of 132 individuals on criminal and civil violations.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Russell Hott, Field Office Director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne. Assistant U.S. Attorney S. David Schiller prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:18-cr-84.