Mexican Citizen Pleads Guilty to Fourth Illegal Re-Entry Charge

Baltimore, Maryland – A Mexican citizen pled guilty in federal court, today, to illegally re-entering the United States, and received a nine-month sentence.

On January 18, 2025, Baltimore City Police Department (BPD) officers arrested Marvin Escobar-Artega, 34, in connection with unrelated charges. Law enforcement then discovered Escobar-Artega was an illegal alien previously removed from the U.S.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea and sentence with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office.

Escobar-Artega knowingly and voluntarily re-entered the United States for the fourth time, this time on an unknown date and at an unknown location. Law enforcement caught Escobar-Artega illegally entering the country on three previous occasions, all within less than a two-week span. He was last deported on April 22, 2020.

According to the plea agreement, on February 28, 2020, Escobar-Artega first unlawfully entered the U.S. at the southern border, near Donna, Texas, without permission or inspection. On the same day, a U.S. immigration judge issued a Notice and Order of Expedited Removal. Then on March 1, Escobar-Artega was removed from the U.S. and deported to Mexico.

Four days later, on March 5, Escobar-Artega illegally re-entered the U.S. for the second time, this time near Progreso, Texas. Law enforcement apprehended and deported Escobar-Artega to Mexico the following day on March 6. Then on March 10, Escobar-Artega illegally re-entered the U.S. for the third time, this time near Hidalgo, Texas, resulting in authorities deporting him to Mexico for the third time, on April 22.   

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.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kertisha Dixon and Carolyn Mills who prosecuted the federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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