Illegal Immigrant Sentenced For Reentering the United States

MOBILE, AL - A Honduran national was sentenced today for illegally reentering the United States after previously having been deported.

According to court documents, Tomas Rivera-Melgar, 39, was encountered by agents from United States Border Patrol and Homeland Security while he was working at a construction site. Agents were able to determine that Rivera-Melgar had previously been removed from the United States in 2011 and in 2016. Rivera-Melgar has prior convictions for Illegal Entry, Driving While Intoxicated, and Assault Causing Bodily Injury.

At sentencing, Chief Judge Beaverstock imposed a time-served sentence and a 1-year term of supervised release upon his future release. Rivera-Melgar had been in custody since his arrest on February 26, 2025. Upon his release from prison, Rivera-Melgar is to be referred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings. Rivera-Melgar was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Department of Homeland Security, Border Patrol, and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tandice Blackwood prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.