Three undocumented immigrants were recently sentenced in Federal Court in Savannah on October 23rd, 2026, after returning to the United States following a deportation; each man was handed over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to be removed from the country.
Local police in Chatham County apprehended all three men between July and September 2026. Police pulled one man over for a moving violation. They all pled guilty to illegally entering the United States after removal/deportation. The Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court R. Stan Baker sentenced a 30 year old citizen from Guatemala and a 50 year old citizen from Mexico to time served. One 36 year old citizen from Honduras was sentenced to 6 months in federal prison. All three men will be removed after serving their sentences.
Federal Law
Returning to the United States after being removed is a federal crime. If you are convicted of this crime, you can spend up to 2 years in prison. Meanwhile, if you have a certain criminal history, you can spend up to 10 years in prison. Finally, if you have a prior conviction for an aggravated felony, you can spend up to 20 years in prison.
There is also the removal process. Once you are determined to be here illegally because you entered the country after your removal, you can be subject to your prior removal order. Under INA §241(a)(5), you do not need to appear before an Immigration Judge. Your previous removal order cannot be reopened, and most types of relief are unavailable to you. There is an exception if you can show that you would be persecuted or tortured in your home country. You may qualify for a reasonable fear interview.
Impact of an Unlawful Entry Conviction
One mistake can keep you out of the U.S. for life. Once you have entered or attempted to enter the United States after a removal order, you may not return. Under INA §212(a)(9)(C), you become permanently ineligible to immigrate to the United States. Your only option is to leave the U.S. for at least 10 years and file a request for permission to apply for admission. You will also have a criminal record if you are convicted under §1326, which can affect your future immigration applications.
If you or a loved one has a removal order, please speak to an immigration attorney. You may have options that you don’t know about. Or you may create a lifetime problem by making the wrong move.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical you get the right advice.