Mexican citizen sentenced for illegal reentry

MISSOULA – A Mexican man who entered the United States illegally was sentenced today to 6 months in prison to be followed by removal from the United States, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Miguel Angel Lozada-Dominguez, 36, pleaded guilty in May 2025 to one count of illegal reentry.

U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.

The government alleged in court documents that on April 7, 2025, law enforcement had contact with the defendant in St. Regis. Lozada-Dominguez seemed to be soliciting money by approaching bystanders while holding a notebook with handwritten English phrases. Lozada-Dominguez told officers that he was a citizen of Mexico, he did not possess valid immigration documents and had no legal authorization to enter the United States. He did not claim any United States citizenship or lawful status. He was arrested and transported to a local jail for reinstatement of a prior order of removal. In an interview, the defendant stated he entered the United States by crossing the border undetected through Del Rio, Texas.

Lozada-Dominguez’s records showed he was convicted for illegal entry and ordered removed from the United States on January 24, 2019. Further review of records showed that he did not seek or receive authorization from the Attorney General to reenter the United States.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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