PHILADELPHIA, PA — Federal authorities announced this week that three foreign nationals, each previously deported from the United States, have been sentenced for illegally reentering the country. The cases underscore ongoing federal efforts to enforce immigration laws against individuals who repeatedly return to the U.S. without authorization.
United States Attorney David Metcalf revealed that Rigoberto Buox, 44, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Catherine Henry to time served — amounting to nearly three months in custody. Following his sentence, Buox is set to be deported once more.
Buox was initially deported in September 2016 after being apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol agents. In August 2024, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was alerted when Buox was arrested by the Phoenixville Police Department on an assault charge. ICE officers later took him into custody in April 2025. Charged by information in May, Buox pleaded guilty earlier this week, waiving prosecution by indictment.
In a separate case, Kevin Portillo-Urquia, 32, a Honduran national, was sentenced on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Savage, also to time served — approximately three and a half months. Portillo-Urquia had originally been removed in July 2012 after crossing into the U.S. unlawfully.
Earlier this year, during a joint enforcement operation between ICE and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in Philadelphia, agents encountered Portillo-Urquia while searching for another individual. After confirming his prior removal, ICE detained him in March 2025. He was indicted in April and pleaded guilty this week.
The third defendant, Wagner De Leon-Morales, 46, a Mexican national, was sentenced on Monday by Judge Henry to time served, nearly three months. De Leon-Morales was first removed in August 2008 after entering the U.S. illegally. Just one month later, in September 2008, he was again apprehended by Border Patrol in Arizona and deported.
In March 2025, De Leon-Morales came to the attention of federal authorities during a worksite enforcement operation conducted by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania. He admitted to being unlawfully present in the country, was taken into custody in April, and charged by information in May. Like Buox, he waived indictment and pleaded guilty earlier this week.
All three cases were investigated by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, ATF, and HSI. The prosecutions were led by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly Lewis Fallenstein, S. Chandler Harris, and Rebecca Kulik.
The sentences reflect the federal government’s continued commitment to pursuing individuals who violate immigration laws by reentering the United States after deportation, a felony offense under federal statutes. Each defendant now faces removal proceedings following completion of their respective sentences.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.