Iranian Man Arrested in Austin for Immigration Violations

AUSTIN, Texas – An Iranian national was arrested Wednesday in Austin on criminal charges related to his alleged failure to deport.

According to court documents, Jamil Bahlouli, 32, was issued a final order of removal in 2020 for being illegally present in the U.S. He self-deported to Canada in October 2021. Bahlouli was again found to be in the U.S. illegally in December 2023. He was convicted in Montana for illegal entry in January 2024 and sentenced to time served. His final order of removal from 2020 was reinstated and he was released into the U.S., scheduled to report in person to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office in San Antonio on or about Jan. 23, 2024. The criminal complaint filed on June 25, 2025, alleges that Bahlouli did not report as scheduled.

A deportation officer located Bahlouli in Austin on Wednesday and identified him as a previously removed alien. The criminal complaint alleges that deportation officers went to Bahlouli’s residence, encountered him in the doorway of his residence, and attempted to arrest him. The complaint alleges Bahlouli refused to be arrested and slammed the door on the deportation officers, remaining inside his residence and refusing to exit. His alleged actions were designed to prevent or hamper his deportation and departure pursuant to the outstanding final order of removal.

Bahlouli is charged with one count of failure to deport. If convicted, he faces up to four years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

ICE is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Henneke is prosecuting the case.

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).

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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