Hawkeye Reporter

An individual identified as Angel Aranda-Vazquez, a 37-year-old citizen of Mexico, has been sentenced to 168 days in federal prison for reentering the United States illegally. The sentencing took place on September 22, 2025, in Cedar Rapids before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Aranda-Vazquez had pleaded guilty on June 25, 2025, to the charge of being found after illegal reentry.

According to court documents, Aranda-Vazquez had previously been removed from the United States and was discovered using identification documents illegally in Tama County, Iowa. In addition to his prison sentence, he will be subject to a one-year term of supervised release following his incarceration. There is no option for parole in the federal system.

Aranda-Vazquez remains in the custody of the United States Marshal’s Service until he can be transferred to immigration authorities.

Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Enforcement and Removal Operations.

The prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), an initiative that brings together resources from several Department of Justice programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The operation aims to address illegal immigration and combat transnational criminal organizations.

"The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations."

"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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN)."