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Woman sentenced to 10 years in prison in New Mexico after seventh federal reentry conviction

Federal prosecutors say a 60-year-old Mexican national was sentenced to 10 years in prison in New Mexico after pleading guilty to reentry following removal.

Federal Court Immigration Local News
Woman sentenced to 10 years in prison in New Mexico after seventh federal reentry conviction
(Courtesy image / U.S. Department of Justice)

Federal prosecutors say 60-year-old Mexican national had previously been deported six times

Organ Mountain News report

ALBUQUERQUE - A 60-year-old Mexican national has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to reentry following removal, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico.

Federal prosecutors said Elena Ernestina Pedroza was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol agents on Oct. 11, 2025, in Doña Ana County.

According to court records cited in a Justice Department news release, Pedroza had previously been convicted of reentry following removal and deported to Mexico six times, most recently in August 2025.

Prosecutors said Pedroza had previously received a combined total of 88 months in prison across her earlier reentry convictions. In the current case, the government sought a longer sentence as a deterrent.

Pedroza later pleaded guilty to reentry following removal and was sentenced to 120 months in prison.

The U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Silvia Delgado prosecuted it.

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