Two individuals have admitted guilt to illegally re-entering the United States after being deported multiple times. Alejandro Mejia Rios, 45, who also went by Rigoberto Bonilla-Mejia and Juan Carlos Espinoza-Bonilla, resided in North Charleston. Cesar Santana Salazar, 43, also known as Miguel Santana-Hernandez and Cesar Santana, was living in Florida.
Evidence revealed that Mejia Rios is a Mexican citizen who has been deported from the U.S. six times since 2006. Each time he was convicted of illegal reentry and served prison sentences before deportation. He returned illegally and was arrested on October 1, 2023, in Beaufort for driving under the influence and failing to stop for a blue light but was released on bond before an immigration detainer could be placed. He faced further arrests in March 2024 for traffic violations and again in February for assault in Jasper County.
Santana Salazar was detained by Beaufort police on January 25 for driving offenses. He has prior federal convictions for illegal reentry and has been deported six times between 2007 and 2021.
U.S. District Judge David C. Norton accepted their guilty pleas. Mejia Rios could face up to ten years in federal prison with a fine of $250,000 before being deported post-sentence. Santana Salazar faces up to two years with similar fines before his deportation.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice aiming to combat illegal immigration and protect communities from crime.
The investigations were conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Kittrell handling prosecution.
