A 44-year-old Mexican national, Fernando Ramirez-Noria, has been sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for unlawfully reentering the United States for the fifth time, Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck announced on Mar. 16.
The sentencing highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address repeated illegal entries and related criminal activity. Ramirez-Noria pleaded guilty on Aug. 12, 2025, and is expected to face removal proceedings after serving his sentence.
U.S. District Judge Charles R. Eskridge presided over the case and heard evidence regarding Ramirez-Noria’s prior convictions, which include domestic violence, driving while intoxicated (DWI), and previous illegal reentries. Law enforcement first removed Ramirez-Noria from the country in January 2015; however, he returned multiple times and was last removed in June 2020 before being discovered again following a DWI arrest in 2023.
Ramirez-Noria will remain in custody until he is transferred to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis Batarse prosecuted the case.
According to the official website, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas focuses on prosecuting federal crimes and handling civil cases for the government, employing more than 200 attorneys across offices in Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi, Laredo, McAllen, and Brownsville. The office covers 43 counties with a population exceeding nine million people.
The Southern District of Texas is part of the U.S. Department of Justice and serves under the Attorney General according to its official website. Notable former leaders include Alamdar Hamdani (2022-2025) and Ryan Patrick as listed on its history page.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, described as a nationwide initiative that uses Department of Justice resources to address illegal immigration and related criminal organizations.
