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Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry After Prior Deportations in Florida

Mexican national Jorge Mazariegos-De Leon pleaded guilty to illegal reentry. Faces up to two years in prison.

November 14, 2025, 9:59 AM

The seal of the U.S. Department of Justice placed on the folds of a waving American flag.

A close-up of the official U.S. Department of Justice seal resting on the red, white, and blue American flag. By Mehaniq / Shutterstock.com.

Executive Summary

Jorge Mazariegos-De Leon pleaded guilty to illegal reentry into the U.S. after previous removals.

Mazariegos-De Leon, a Mexican national, had been removed twice in 2014 and reentered the U.S. knowing he was not legally permitted to do so.

His case is part of “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide Department of Justice initiative targeting illegal immigration and criminal organizations.

Laws and Precedent

Jorge Mazariegos-De Leon pleaded guilty to illegal reentry into the United States after prior removal, a federal offense prosecuted under 8 U.S.C. § 1326, which criminalizes aliens who reenter the U.S. after having been deported. This charge carries a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison, reflecting the U.S. Department of Justice’s efforts, exemplified by initiatives like “Operation Take Back America,” to enforce immigration laws and deter repeat illegal entries.

Jorge Mazariegos-De Leon, a 39-year-old Mexican national, pleaded guilty in Tampa, Florida, on November 14, 2025, to illegal reentry into the United States after having been previously removed. He faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison; however, a sentencing date has not yet been set.

Case Details

According to court documents, Mazariegos-De Leon voluntarily entered the United States at some point between May 2014 and April 2024. He did so with full knowledge that he had been previously removed from the country on two separate occasions in 2014 and was not legally permitted to reenter.

On April 1, 2024, officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO) located and apprehended Mazariegos-De Leon in Manatee County, Florida.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide initiative led by the U.S. Department of Justice. The operation marshals federal resources to address illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and enhance community safety.

The investigation into Mazariegos-De Leon was conducted by ICE-ERO. Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Wheeler, III, prosecuted the case, which was announced by United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida.

Enforcement of Immigration Laws

Mazariegos-De Leon’s guilty plea highlights the continuous efforts by federal authorities to enforce immigration laws and deter individuals who have been previously deported from illegally reentering the United States.