Honduran man arrested on immigration charges

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Wilmer Orlando Canelas-Najera, 44, a citizen of Honduras, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with illegal reentry and taking action to prevent his departure from the United States, which carry a maximum penalty of four years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Bonanno, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on April 1, 2025, the U.S. Border Patrol Anti-Smuggling Unit was conducting surveillance near the Marriott Hotel in Amherst, NY. Agents conducted a record checks on a pickup truck in the parking lot with Maryland license plates, which came back registered to “Canelas, Wilmer,” an illegal alien previously removed from the Unites States. Subsequently, two individuals, one matching the description of Canelas, were located in the parking lot. Agents approached and asked if one of them was named “Wilmer.” Canelas responded “Yes,” but after the agents identified themselves, Canelas shouted “Run!” Both individuals ran in opposite directions, attempting to flee the agents. The second individual was apprehended but Canelas was not at that time. In the early morning hours of the following day, Canelas was spotted on a floor of the hotel. When Canelas saw handcuffs in the hands of an agent, he approached the agent and pushed his hands before maneuvering around the agent and running into a hotel room and locking the door. Agents returned later that afternoon and took Canelas into custody. Canelas was ordered removed from the United States in 1997 but failed to appear at his immigration hearing. He was apprehended in March 2017, and removed from the country. Canelas was apprehended once again in September 2017 and ordered removed.

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.

Canelas made an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was ordered detained.

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge Martin B. Coombs.   

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.   

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