2 sentenced to prison for illegally entering U.S.

Mexican nationals had criminal histories

Posted Sep 23, 2011

Janet Rose Jackman
TucsonSentinel.com

U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionJorge Arriega Hernandez
U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionJosé Eleazar Amaya García

Two Mexican nationals apprehended by the Border Patrol for illegally entering the United States were sentenced to prison on Sept. 16, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Friday.

Jorge Arriega Hernandez, 39, of Zitácuaro, Mexico, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for attempted illegal re-entry. José Eleazar Amaya García, 43, of San Juan Tumbio, Mexico, was sentenced to 64 months in prison for re-entry of an aggravated felon.

Arriega was apprehended by Ajo Station agents on April 5. Record checks revealed he was convicted in 2005 for possession with intent to manufacture methamphetamine in Fresno County, Calif.

Arriega served 151 days in prison and was deported following that sentence, the Border Patrol said.

His April case was turned over to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution for re-entry. After Arriega serves his current sentence, he will be formally removed from the country.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted Amaya after he was apprehended March 18. During processing at the Tucson Station, record checks revealed he was convicted in Orange County, Calif., in 1999 for making terrorist threats toward an individual.

Amaya was previously deported from the United States through San Ysidro, Calif., after serving a two-year sentence for that crime, the Border Patrol said.

He was charged with re-entry of an aggravated felon for the March incident. After serving his sentence, Amaya will be formally removed from the country.

Under the Border Patrol’s Consequence Delivery System, Arriega and Amaya are classified as recidivists with a criminal record. Both men are now banned for life from all legalization processes without a waiver from the U.S. Attorney General.