A Mexican national has been sentenced to prison in the United States for unlawfully reentering the country.
The man was discovered living in Houston after reentering the country for the third time, the US Attorney’s Office said Wednesday.
Javier Rivera sentenced
Javier Andres Rivera, 31, was initially deported from the United States in 2011. He has now reentered illegally three times, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.
Rivera’s criminal record includes offenses such as aggravated robbery with a firearm, possession of 50 pounds of marijuana, terroristic threats, and illegal re-entry.
Rivera was last discovered in the United States in July 2025, when he was detained for unlawful possession of a handgun. On November 12, 2025, he pleaded guilty to illegal reentry.
U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison sentenced Rivera to five years in federal prison for the crime. It was highlighted that Rivera had already served a significant prison sentence but proceeded to re-offend despite this.
Rivera is anticipated to face removal proceedings after his sentence is completed. He will stay in jail until he is transferred to a prison facility, which will be determined shortly, according to the attorney’s office.