An undocumented immigrant with a significant criminal record in Illinois has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for re-entering the United States after being deported. Luis Chavez, 34, was previously removed from the country in 2015 following convictions for firearm and attempted burglary offenses in Kankakee County, Illinois. Sometime between his deportation and 2024, Chavez returned to the U.S. without inspection or admission by immigration authorities.
On February 17, 2024, Chavez was found in Kankakee County and subsequently taken into federal custody. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal charge of illegal re-entry. U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins handed down the sentence on Wednesday, granting credit for time already served while awaiting the outcome of his case.
The sentencing was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Russell Hott, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Chicago.
“The defendant in this case committed serious criminal offenses in the United States before his deportation and removal,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “He then ignored a Court order and returned to the United States without authorization. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago will continue to enforce all federal criminal immigration laws to promote respect for the law, keep our communities safe from defendants with criminal histories, and protect the integrity and sovereignty of our borders.”
“This case underscores the critical importance of enforcing our nation’s immigration laws,” said Field Office Director Hott. “Chavez’s unlawful re-entry into the United States after deportation, combined with his extensive criminal history, posed a threat to public safety and the rule of law. ERO Chicago remains committed to identifying, apprehending, and removing individuals who violate our immigration laws and endanger our communities.”
