Violent Ecuadorian Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-Entry Charges

Baltimore, Maryland - An Ecuadorian alien pled guilty in federal court today to illegally re-entering the United States after her prior removal.

Vanessa Yalixa Munoz-Baque, 31, pled guilty to the re-entry charges after she was previously removed from the U.S. in August 2023. Munoz-Baque illegally re-entered the U.S., again, on November 3, 2023, and began residing in Frederick, Maryland. Law enforcement discovered her illegally present in the U.S. upon her arrest for attempted murder.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) - Baltimore Field Office.

According to the guilty plea, on September 11, 2024, local law enforcement apprehended Munoz-Baque in Frederick. Authorities charged her with attempted murder and assault after she placed a knife to her victim's neck and stabbed him in the leg. Then in March 2025, Munoz-Baque pled guilty to first-degree assault and received a 25-year sentence, with all but three years suspended.

Munoz-Baque was originally deported after law enforcement apprehended her at the border in Eagle Pass, Texas, on June 17, 2023. Authorities subsequently charged Munoz-Baque with unlawfully attempting to enter the U.S. without inspection.

Law enforcement placed her in expedited removal proceedings, and an immigration judge ordered Munoz-Baque's removal to Ecuador. After her removal, Munoz-Baque never obtained consent from the Attorney General of the United States, or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, for readmission into the country.

Munoz-Baque faces a maximum sentence of two years in federal prison for the re-entry offense. Sentencing is set for Thursday, June 25, at 2:30 p.m.

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

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ICE-ERO for its work in this investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason D. Medinger and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Shea who are prosecuting this case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.

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