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U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Mississippi
GULFPORT – A Mexican national was sentenced today to “time served” (effectively 52 days) imprisonment for the federal felony offense of Unlawful Reentry Into the United States by a Deported or Removed Alien. According to court documents, Juana Arres-Chapol, age 47, was sentenced in federal court in Gulfport. Additionally, Arres-Chapol was sentenced to one year of supervised release following completion of her prison sentence.
Further, federal law provides for Arres-Chapol to face U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) removal proceedings. After removal again from the U.S., her supervised release period will be non-reporting while she remains outside of the United States. However, if she unlawfully returns to the U.S., Arres-Chapol could face separate, consecutive penalties in addition to further prosecution. She was convicted after pleading guilty on February 25, 2025.
On or about January 27, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol agents were conducting enforcement operations in Harrison County, in the Southern Division of the Southern District of MS. Agents conducted a vehicle stop and all three vehicle occupants were determined to be illegally present in the US and were arrested and processed for removal. Arres-Chapol’s fingerprints were scanned into DHS databases resulting in a computer match to her prior immigration records including photographs.
Records revealed that Arres-Chapol had been arrested in or near Laredo, Texas, on or about April 18, 2014. She was processed for an Expedited Removal and was lawfully removed from the US. Immigration records also revealed that Arres-Chapol had not received permission to reenter the U.S. from either the Attorney General or from the Secretary of Homeland Security.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, Patrick A. Lemon, praised the investigative work of Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Border Patrol. Lemon and Eric P. DeLaune, Special Agent-in-Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Adam M. Calderon, Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the Border Patrol’s New Orleans Sector, made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
