The United States Attorney’s Office announced on March 23 that two Mexican nationals were sentenced in separate cases for illegally re-entering the United States after previous deportations.
These cases highlight ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address illegal immigration and enforce existing laws. Both individuals were prosecuted under statutes prohibiting re-entry after removal, reflecting a continued focus on border security and public safety.
Victor Juan Escobar-Figueroa, age 38, was sentenced to time served plus up to ten days to allow for deportation. Court documents show that Escobar-Figueroa was stopped by the Wyoming Highway Patrol on December 4, 2025, near Burns. During the investigation, troopers suspected he was in the country illegally and contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE records confirmed his prior removal from the United States in May 2012 without permission to return. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Naiman prosecuted the case before U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson.
In a separate case, Isaias Hernandez-Zamora, age 42 of Tlaxcala, Mexico, received a sentence of time served for illegal re-entry after being previously deported in November 2007. He will be subject to one year of supervised release with a special condition not to return illegally again and has been placed into ICE custody for deportation following sentencing by Judge Johnson on March 17 in Cheyenne. Hernandez-Zamora came under investigation after an arrest by Teton County Sheriff’s Office in November 2022; ICE later determined his status and pursued charges when he remained at large until June 2024.
The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in litigation within Wyoming’s district courts—including criminal prosecutions such as these—and runs several programs aimed at improving community safety through initiatives like Project Safe Childhood and Operation Take Back America.
Victims or witnesses of federal crimes are encouraged to contact authorities via https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime.
