A 42-year-old Mexican national, Jose Mario Cervantes-Luna, was sentenced on Mar. 12 to 24 months in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States for the sixth time, according to Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address repeat immigration violations and protect communities from individuals with significant criminal histories. Cervantes-Luna has a prior conviction for sexual assault of a minor under 14 years of age and multiple convictions for illegal reentry.
U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett imposed the sentence, noting Cervantes-Luna’s repeated removals from the country and his criminal record. “In imposing the sentence, the court noted Cervantes-Luna’s repeated removals, significant criminal history, and the danger he posed to the community given his previous sexual offense conviction,” according to the announcement.
Cervantes-Luna had previously been removed from the United States in 2004, 2011, and three times in 2012. He was discovered again without authorization on Dec. 17, 2020. Following his imprisonment, he is expected to face removal proceedings once more.
The investigation was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Alum and Benjamin Hostetter prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, described as “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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.” The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas has included notable figures such as Alamdar Hamdani and Ryan Patrick among its former leaders according to the official history page.
The office operates out of Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi, Laredo, McAllen and Brownsville as described on its official website. It is part of the U.S. Department of Justice and serves under the Attorney General according to its official website. The office employs more than 200 attorneys covering 43 counties with a population exceeding nine million as detailed on its official website, focusing on prosecuting federal crimes and handling civil cases for the government according to its official website. Alamdar Hamdani served as one of its leaders from 2022 to 2025 as noted on its official history page.
