A Mexican national, Esteban De Paz Jimenez, has been sentenced to seven months in prison for illegally reentering the United States after being previously deported. He will remain subject to a prior removal order.
Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, stated: “This case underscores the importance of immigration enforcement to protect our nation and our people. Esteban De Paz Jimenez repeatedly violated our immigration laws and committed a serious assault against his then-estranged wife. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect victims and remove violent criminals who pose a threat to public safety from the United States.”
Court records show that De Paz Jimenez, 39, had been deported three times since 2010 and reentered the country illegally each time. Between 2016 and 2020, he was convicted six times for driving without a license.
Authorities discovered his illegal presence after his arrest on April 7, 2025, in Caroline County on charges including strangulation, preventing summoning of law enforcement, and malicious wounding. On March 30, 2025, De Paz Jimenez confronted his then-estranged wife at her home, where he choked her, shoved her to the ground, pulled out a large portion of her hair, and took her phone to prevent her from calling emergency services.
The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Day.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America—a Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and addressing violent crime.
Additional information can be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia or through PACER by searching Case No. 3:25-cr-82.
