A Mexican citizen has been sentenced to just over a year in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after previous deportations. Juan Hernandez-Sandoval, 45, received a sentence of 12 months and one day from U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips on September 25, 2025. Hernandez-Sandoval pleaded guilty earlier this year to illegal reentry following a felony conviction.
According to court records, Hernandez-Sandoval had been deported or returned to Mexico four times prior to his latest offense. In 2017, he was convicted for being present in the country without admission or parole and subsequently deported that same year.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley Cooper and investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement along with Enforcement and Removal Operations.
“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),” according to officials.
