Mexican National Charged with Illegal Reentry to the United States

Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on August 21, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Samuel Alfaro-Sanchez, 31, of Mexico, with being found in the United States on August 13, 2025, after having previously been removed from the United States.

Alfaro-Sanchez entered a plea of not guilty to the charges during an arraignment on August 28, 2025 before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Judge Doyle ordered that Alfaro-Sanchez be detained during the pendency of this matter.

According to court records, Alfaro-Sanchez, a citizen of Mexico, illegally entered the United States on numerous prior occasions. In 2008, Alfaro-Sanchez voluntarily returned to Mexico after having been apprehended near Tucson, Arizona. In 2018, Alfaro-Sanchez was removed from the United States twice after having been apprehended first near Paso Del Norte, Texas in March and then again near Sasabe, Arizona in July. In 2019, Alfaro-Sanchez was again removed from the United States after having been apprehended near El Paso, Texas. In 2020, Alfaro-Sanchez was expelled from the United States twice in September after having been apprehended on two separate occasions near Douglas, Arizona. In 2021, Alfaro-Sanchez was expelled from the United States after having been apprehended near Douglas, Arizona.

The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Alfaro-Sanchez is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Alfaro-Sanchez faces up to 2 years’ imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.

Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the United States Border Patrol.

The prosecutor is Special Assistant United States Attorney Charles W. Kirkham. Alfaro-Sanchez is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Emily Kenyon.

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).