CENTRAL ISLIP — A twice-removed Salvadoran national was sentenced Nov. 18 to 30 months in federal custody. The sentencing of Jose Ruiz-Alvarado, 52, follows a February 2019 indictment for illegal reentry, a charge initiated after his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) for immigration violations.

“For too long, the sovereignty of this nation has been threatened by those who choose to reenter the country illegally, after being ordered removed, with no regard to the laws of this country,” said Thomas R. Decker, field office director for ERO New York. “Now Ruiz-Alvarado, a criminal alien seeking to circumvent U.S. laws to suit him, will now serve his sentence, and he will be removed from the country, again. It’s unfortunate that because of the sanctuary policies here in New York, criminal aliens have no fear in returning to the U.S. and to live within our communities. Despite those irresponsible policies, ERO New York deportation officers continue to enforce federal immigration laws to protect the communities and its citizens.”

Ruiz-Alvarado, a citizen of El Salvador, was previously removed by ICE on two separate occasions in March 2002 and January 2008. His 2002 removal followed a felony conviction in the State of Texas for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, for which he was sentenced to a 15-years imprisonment. His 2008 removal followed a conviction in U.S District Court-Southern District of Texas, for which a sentence of 41 months was imposed. Following this removal. Ruiz-Alvarado again unlawfully reentered the U.S. at an unknown place, on an unknown date.

On Dec. 31, 2018, Ruiz-Alvarado was arrested in East Hampton, New York, on local charges. On Jan. 3, 2019, ERO deportation officers assigned to Long Island Sub-Office’s Violent Criminal Alien Section (VCAS) obtained a federal arrest warrant in U.S. District Court-Eastern District of New York (EDNY) for violation of 8 USC 1326(b)(2), illegally reentering the U.S. after removal, following an aggravated felony conviction. On Jan. 30, 2019, deportation officers arrested Ruiz-Alvarado in East Hampton, New York. He was arraigned in EDNY, and subsequently remanded into U.S. Marshal Service custody, pending trial.

On Nov. 19, 2019, Ruiz-Alvarado, following a plea of guilty, was sentenced to 30-months in federal custody for illegal reentry after removal following an aggravated felony conviction, in EDNY. Ruiz-Alvarado will be returned to ICE custody for removal, following the completion of his imposed sentence.

ICE is focused on removing public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members, as well as individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws, including those who illegally reentered the country after being removed and immigration fugitives ordered removed by federal immigration judges.