Twice-Deported Guatemalan Man Living Illegally in New Bedford Indicted

BOSTON (WBSM) — A Guatemalan national residing in New Bedford who had previously been deported twice and with a history of criminal convictions has been indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally reentering the United States after deportation.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Manuel Ruiz Luis, 52, was charged with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Ruiz Luis was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on March 31, 2025, and following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, has been detained.

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Ruiz Luis Faces Prison Time, Deportation

If found guilty on the unlawful reentry charge, Ruiz Luis faces up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine up to $250,000. He is also subject to deportation upon completion of the sentence.

Ruiz Luis Was First Deported Almost 30 Years Ago

The indictment states that Ruiz Luis was first deported back to Guatemala in April 1996 and allegedly reentered the U.S. sometime after that. He was then removed from the U.S. a second time on March 28, 2012, and then subsequently reentered the country illegally after that.

Ruiz Luis Has “Multiple Criminal Convictions”

“According to court documents, prior to his 2012 removal, Ruiz Luis had multiple criminal convictions including one charge of operating under the influence and four separate charges of operating a motor vehicle without a license,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.