A man was arrested at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry after allegedly attempting to re-enter the United States illegally, authorities announced Monday.
Alejandro Mendez Flores, 38, a citizen of Mexico, was charged by criminal complaint with illegal re-entry of a removed alien, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen M. McCarthy stated that Customs and Border Protection officers encountered Flores on April 30 at the Peace Bridge. Flores, driving a vehicle with Kentucky registration, inadvertently entered the bridge toward Canada and was refused admission. Afterward, he encountered CBP officers. A records check revealed that Flores had been arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Texas in July 2019 after illegally entering the United States. He was subsequently removed from the country.
Authorities confirmed that Flores made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. and was detained following the hearing.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office noted that the arrest is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime.
Officials emphasized that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and that Flores is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The investigation was conducted by Customs and Border Protection, under the leadership of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].