A Mexican national, Gerardo Morales-Ramirez, has admitted to being in the United States illegally. On June 9, 2025, he pled guilty in a federal court in Sioux City. Morales-Ramirez was found to be a felon after an illegal reentry into the country.
The arrest took place on February 28, 2025, in Sioux City, Iowa. Officers from the Department of Homeland Security encountered Morales-Ramirez and identified him as a Mexican citizen without lawful permission to be in the United States. It was also discovered that he had been deported three times before. His last removal occurred in 2021 following a conviction for felony operating while intoxicated – third or subsequent offense.
Morales-Ramirez will face sentencing by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand once a presentence report is prepared. Until then, he remains in custody under the supervision of the United States Marshals. The possible penalties include up to 10 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release after serving any prison time.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America. This initiative uses resources from the Department of Justice to address illegal immigration issues and combat cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). It aims to protect communities from violent crime perpetrators through efforts like those of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
