Mexican citizen found illegally living in Scranton, U.S. attorney says
A Mexican citizen residing in Scranton is charged with illegal reentry by the United States attorney's office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Officers found Higinio Mendez-Salazar, 52, at 310 Pittston Ave. on May 15 during a 'targeted enforcement operation,' according to a criminal complaint.
According to the complaint:
On Feb. 4, 2004, Mendez-Salazar was stopped by U.S. Border Patrol agents near Sunizona, Arizona, and voluntarily returned to Mexico.
The Border Patrol again encountered Mendez-Salazar, this time near Hebbronville, Texas, on July 8, 2011, and he again returned to Mexico voluntarily.
On Jan. 16, 2019, Philadelphia officers arrested Mendez-Salazar. He was flown back to Mexico on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement charter flight.
Mendez-Salazar was prohibited from attempting to enter or returning to the United States for a period of 10 years. He was required to obtain permission from the attorney general to reapply for permission to legally reenter the U.S.
At some point before May 15, he reentered the country.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment and a fine.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, which a U.S. attorney's office news release describes as a nationwide initiative '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.'
The case was investigated by ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Pennsylvania State Police. Acting U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus is prosecuting the case.
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