DEL RIO, TEXAS — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Texas, Western), published as received.

DEL RIO, Texas – A Salvadoran national was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to the statutory maximum 20 years in prison for illegal re-entry, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons.

According to court documents, Celso Rivas-Gonzalez was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents on July 26, 2025. In 2024, Rivas-Gonzalez was convicted of both illegal re-entry and indecency with a child. Prior to that, in 2021, he was convicted of a harassment felony that had been reduced from one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child. Rivas-Gonzalez has been deported from the U.S. twice, the last time being on Feb. 19, 2025. U.S. District Judge Ernest Gonzalez sentenced Rivas-Gonzalez exactly one year later.

“I hope the message is now clear, but if not, I’ll say it plainly. If you’re an illegal alien that has committed the types of heinous offenses that were committed by the defendant in this case, we will hold you to account.”  said U.S. Attorney Simmons. “The 20-year max imprisonment imposed here rightfully demonstrates that we will not let convicted sexual predators come into this country illegally and jeopardize the safety of Americans. I appreciate our law enforcement partners who vigilantly patrol our borderlands for their dedication to the mission to combat illegal immigration and keep Americans safe from this and many other types of criminals.”

“This case reflects the hard work of the men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol to keep our communities free of sex offenders and other criminals,” said Chief Patrol Agent Anthony S. Good, Del Rio Border Patrol Sector. “It also highlights the cooperation with other entities to bring those criminals to justice.”

The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carli Tuttle and Daisy Gonzalez prosecuted the case.

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.

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