Erik Santana-Garcia, a 34-year-old Mexican national, was sentenced on July 30 to 20 years in federal prison without parole, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. He was convicted of interstate transportation of a minor with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity, possession of child pornography, and illegally reentering the United States following a prior deportation.
Santana-Garcia pleaded guilty to the charges on March 3. According to prosecutors, he transported a minor across state lines from Utah to Missouri with the intent to engage in sexual activity with the child. Oak Grove, Missouri, police located the pair two days after they left Utah. During the investigation, authorities discovered child pornography depicting a second minor on a phone seized from Santana-Garcia at the time of his arrest.
Santana-Garcia had been deported from the U.S. on multiple previous occasions, with his most recent removal occurring on March 6, 2019. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stated that Santana-Garcia will be deported to Mexico after completing his prison sentence.
This case highlights concerns about individuals with prior deportation orders reentering the country and committing further offenses. Former Acting ICE Director Jonathan Fahey has previously discussed similar cases, emphasizing that cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE could prevent serious crimes by ensuring individuals with criminal histories are transferred to federal custody upon release from local jails.