Federal authorities in the Eastern District of Virginia have provided updates on six immigration-related cases, following recent executive orders focused on stricter enforcement of U.S. immigration laws.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, announced that these actions align with directives signed by the President on Jan. 20. The orders—Protecting the American People Against Invasion and Securing Our Borders—direct federal agencies to prioritize prosecution of criminal offenses related to unauthorized entry or continued presence in the United States.
Among those prosecuted is Oscar Armando Duarte-Salinas, a Honduran national who had been removed from the country multiple times since 2005 but returned after his most recent removal in 2012. He was arrested repeatedly for public drunkenness and other charges after reentering and has now pled guilty to illegal reentry.
Another case involves Salvadoran national Pablo Arnoldo Argueta Gonzalez, also known as Jose Rodriguez-Montoya, who was previously removed in 2019 but returned unlawfully and was detained following a DUI arrest. He pled guilty to illegal reentry and remains subject to removal.
Guatemalan national Jiber Nemias-Lucs has a history of repeated removals and illegal entries dating back over a decade, along with several local convictions including assault and battery, DUI, obstruction of justice, and robbery by force. He recently pled guilty again to illegally reentering after removal.
Salvadoran national Marlon Omar Flores Quintanilla was twice removed before being detained earlier this year at Prince William County Adult Detention Center; he also pled guilty to illegal reentry.
Abel Enrique Carrillo Cobo from Guatemala faced three removals before returning unlawfully; he was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon in Fairfax County in 2022 and recently entered a guilty plea for illegal reentry after a felony conviction.
Lastly, Guatemalan national Jose Adolfo Veliz first entered the United States illegally in 1990 before being removed in 2009. After his latest arrest for charges related to sexual battery in Hanover County earlier this year, Veliz pled guilty to illegally reentering following prior removal.
All six individuals remain subject to their previous orders of removal from the United States.
The prosecutions are part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Justice aimed at addressing illegal immigration and targeting transnational criminal organizations.
“A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for the case number provided above.”
