An illegal alien and Mexican citizen who unlawfully reentered the U.S.A. after being previously removed was sentenced today to six months in federal prison. Christian Vega-Camacho, age 29, from Guadalupe, Mexico, received the prison term after a January 16, 2026, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry.At the guilty plea, Vega-Camacho admitted he had previously been removed from the U.S.A. in 2018. Sometime later, he reentered the country without permission. In April 2021, law enforcement officers arrested Vega-Camacho in Decorah, Iowa. He was using fraudulent documents to work in the country. Vega-Camacho was released from custody pending trial. Vega-Camacho fled from release in June 2021. His whereabouts were unknown until he was arrested in Postville, Iowa, in November 2025. Vega-Camacho was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Vega-Camacho was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.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.Vega-Camacho is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by Immigrations and Custom Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.The case file number is 21-CR-2027.Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice