Illegal alien repeat offender sent to prison

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 41-year-old man who illegally resided in Harlingen has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of unlawfully reentering the country again, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Fidel Jose-Ramirez pleaded guilty Dec. 18, 2024.

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. has now ordered him to serve 33 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, Jose-Ramirez is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard about his violations of supervised release stemming from a prior conviction. In handing down the sentence, Judge Rodriguez considered factors to protect the public and noted Jose-Ramirez’s criminal history represented a higher risk of harm to the public.

He has other criminal convictions including driving while intoxicated, assault family violence, criminal mischief and possession of a controlled substance. He was first ordered removed from the United States in 2019.

Jose-Ramirez was previously convicted of being an alien unlawfully found in the United States after removal in 2023. The investigation revealed that after his conviction and subsequent removal, he had illegally reentered the country Jan. 3, 2024, after crossing the Rio Grande River near Brownsville.

He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Marian prosecuted the case.