Illegal Alien Charged with Unlawful Reentry

BOSTON - A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Salem, Mass. has been charged with illegally reentering the United States after deportation. The defendant was previously removed on two occasions.

Newton Persido Ortiz Santana, 41, was charged with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Ortiz Santana will be arraigned in federal court in Boston on Oct. 20, 2026.

According to the charging documents, Ortiz Santana, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was first deported from San Antonio, Texas to the Dominican Republic in January 2010. In September 2021, Ortiz Santana was encountered by Border Patrol agents near Penitas, Texas. He subsequently pleaded guilty to unlawfully re-entering the United States and was again removed from the United States in December 2021.

It is alleged that, at an unknown place and time thereafter, Ortiz Santana re-entered the United States. On Nov. 8, 2024, Ortiz Santana was arrested and charged in Salem, Mass., with negligent operation of a vehicle and operating after suspension. Immigration authorities learned of Ortiz Santana's unlawful presence in the United States later that day as the result of a biometric fingerprint match.

On March 20, 2025, federal immigration agents attempted to arrest Ortiz Santana. It is alleged that Ortiz Santana evaded capture by accelerating directly towards a law enforcement vehicle, driving through multiple stop signs and fleeing at a high rate of speed using the sidewalk. He was taken into custody on May 29, 2026.

The charge of illegal reentry provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and David T. Wesling, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Estes of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.