Illegal alien with 7 DWIs sent to federal prison after reentering the United States Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas Dateline: Corpus Christi, Texas Date: 1 April 2025 Subjects: American Government , Crime

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 44-year-old Mexican national has been sentenced to federal prison for illegally reentering the United States after a previous removal, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Arturo Cruz-Badillo pleaded guilty Nov. 5, 2024.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Cruz-Badillo to serve 24 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings again following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court noted his previous driving while intoxicated (DWI) convictions and how they are very dangerous for communities and the citizens that live there.

Cruz-Badillo has seven prior DWI convictions in addition to a conviction for battery. He removed from the country three times between 2012 and 2023.

However, on Aug. 22, 2024, law enforcement at the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint near Sarita discovered Cruz-Badillo again in the country along with 10 other illegal aliens being smuggled in a commercial cargo trailer.

Cruz-Badillo will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

BP conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Thorpe is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, 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 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 and Project Safe Neighborhood.

Updated April 1, 2025