Gulfport, Miss. – Noel Velasquez-Lucas, 50, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to “time served” (effectively 148 days in prison), and one year of supervised release, for unlawful reentry by an alien after deportation or removal, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, and William Joyce, Acting Field Office Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations in New Orleans. 

Velasquez-Lucas pled guilty to the felony offense before Judge Ozerden on June 20, 2019.  After completion of his imprisonment, he will be transferred to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration & Customs Enforcement, where he will be subject to administrative detention and removal proceedings to remove him from the United States to his home nation of Guatemala.  

On May 2, 2019, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents encountered Noel Velasquez-Lucas while conducting fugitive operations in Biloxi, Mississippi.  The agents identified themselves as ICE Deportation Officers and determined that Velasquez-Lucas was an illegal alien from Guatemala, with multiple prior immigration removals.  Velasquez-Lucas was arrested and transported to the Gulfport, Mississippi, ICE office for processing. 

An investigation revealed that Velasquez-Lucas initially unlawfully entered the United States in March, 2002, near Lukeville, AZ.  Border Patrol Agents arrested him and granted him a Voluntary Return in lieu of formal removal. 

On March 7, 2014. Velasquez-Lucas was arrested by Border Patrol Agents near Kingsville, Texas.   He was issued a lawful order of removal on March 12, 2014, and was physically removed from the United States pursuant to that order from Harlingen, Texas. 

On April 21, 2014, Velasquez-Lucas was arrested again by US Border Patrol Agents near McAllen, Texas, and his order of removal was reinstated on April 29, 2014, and he was physically removed from the United States.

On January 16, 2019, Velasquez-Lucas was arrested yet again by US Border Patrol Agents near San Luis, Arizona.  His order of removal was again reinstated, and he was released with supervision including electronic monitoring.  On January 23, 2019, a tampering alert identified that Velasquez-Lucas had absconded, and he was found in the Southern District of Mississippi. 

U.S. Attorney Hurst praised the cooperation exhibited by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Enforcement Removal Operations, and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris was the prosecutor for this case.