DOJ Convicts 34 Immigrants in Florida for Illegal Reentry

The U.S. Department of Justice announced that 34 immigrants have been convicted in Florida for illegally reentering the United States after prior deportations. The cases are part of the DOJ’s “Operation Take Back America.”

Among those convicted is Marin Mendez Vasquez, a Mexican national previously deported three times, who was apprehended in Alachua County in September 2025. The others, from Mexico, Honduras, and El Salvador, were encountered across various Florida counties, including Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Leon, and Bay. Many had been deported multiple times between 2006 and 2024.

U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin emphasized, “We are a nation of laws, and my office is committed to enforcing those laws by aggressively prosecuting violations.”

The convictions highlight the continued enforcement against unlawful reentry, with penalties including criminal charges, fines, and potential imprisonment.