Guatemalan Man Sentenced for Illegal Re-entry into United States

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Mario Navarijo Orantes, age 52, and a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced today to time served (133 days in jail) for illegal re-entry into the United States.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Robert N. Garcia, Chief Patrol Agent, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector.

Navarijo Orantes was removed from the United States to Guatemala on November 27, 1991 and again on October 5, 1999.  On June 6, 2018, he was arrested by a Border Patrol Agent near Champlain, New York, after he illegally entered the United States from Canada by walking across the border approximately one mile east of the Overton Corners Port of Entry. Navarijo Orantes admitted that he returned to the United States without permission following the prior removals. Navarijo Orantes claimed to have been residing in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, since 2000.  

Following the sentencing, Navarijo Orantes was remanded to the custody of the Department of Homeland Security, for removal proceedings.  

In a related case, on October 5, 2018, Carlos Figueroa Rivas, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, pled guilty to the felony offense of encouraging and inducing the illegal entry of an alien (Mario Navarijo Orantes). He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 6, 2019.   

This case was investigated by Border Patrol and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward P. Grogan.