Three Foreign Nationals Sentenced in April for Illegally Reentering the United States After Deportation

PHILADELPHIA - United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that three foreign nationals convicted separately of illegally reentering the United States after prior deportations were sentenced this month.

Demer Ramirez-Diaz, aka Demer Neftali Ramirez Diaz, 38, a Guatemalan national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Paul S. Diamond to 16 months in prison and three years of supervised release for illegal reentry. Upon completing his prison sentence, he will be removed from the United States again.

Ramirez-Diaz has been removed from the U.S. four times prior: in June 2009, February 2012, and July 2012, following arrests by the U.S. Border Patrol in Arizona and New Mexico, and in February 2022, after having served a six-month sentence for a previous illegal reentry conviction in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

In September of last year, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") officer who recognized Ramirez-Diaz from his previous arrest and prosecution in this district saw the defendant walking down the street in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. The officer approached, identified himself, and took Ramirez-Diaz into custody without incident.

Ramirez-Diaz was charged by indictment with illegal reentry in October and pleaded guilty in November.

Ubdulio Santiago-Morales, 32, a Mexican national, was sentenced by United States District Chief Judge Wendy Beetlestone to time served, approximately three months, for illegal reentry. Having completed his sentence, he will be removed from the United States again.

Santiago-Morales first entered the country unlawfully in August 2011, was quickly encountered by immigration officers, and voluntarily returned to Mexico the following day. He was subsequently removed from the U.S. twice: in July 2012 and in January 2015.

In April of last year, the defendant was arrested by local police in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and charged with DUI and related violations. He was released on bond in that case and informed that he must return to court for his preliminary hearing on July 11, 2025. The defendant failed to appear on July 11 and remained a fugitive for six months.

ICE took Santiago-Morales into custody in January of this year on a federal criminal complaint and warrant. He was charged by information with illegal reentry in February and pleaded guilty in March, waiving prosecution by indictment.

Efrain Villegas Lopez, 35, a Mexican national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Catherine Henry to time served, approximately three months, for illegal reentry. Having completed his sentence, he will be removed from the United States again.

Lopez had previously been removed from the U.S. in June 2012, following his arrest by the U.S. Border Patrol in Texas.

In January of this year, ICE became aware that the defendant had been arrested by the Lower Providence Township Police Department. Lopez was arrested on a federal criminal complaint that month, charged by information with illegal reentry in February, and pleaded guilty in April, waiving prosecution by indictment.

These cases are 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 (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

The cases were investigated by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys J. Andrew Jenemann, Nancy Potts, and Robert Schopf.