Ana Castro Castro, a 38-year-old citizen of Ecuador, has pleaded guilty to illegally re-entering the United States after being previously removed. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo in Buffalo, New York.
According to Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith, Castro was deported from the United States in July 2021. She was discovered again on August 1, 2025, in Erie County, New York by Border Patrol Agents and did not possess documents authorizing her presence in the country.
The case is connected to Operation Take Back America, an initiative led by the Department of Justice aimed at addressing illegal immigration and targeting criminal organizations. The operation focuses on using all available resources to counter illegal entry into the United States and dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
The investigation leading to Castro’s plea and sentencing was conducted by U.S. Border Patrol under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge David Banks.
Castro was sentenced to time served and transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further action.
