A Honduran national that attempted to illegally enter the U.S. has now been sentenced to 20 years in prison.
According to the original complaint, Noel Jose Funez-Antunez entered into the U.S. near Eagle Pass in November 2025. Antunez was detained by Customs and Border Protection agents for entering illegally into the United States.
Antunez was previously removed from the U.S. in June 2024.
CBP detained and questioned Antunez, who admitted he was a Honduran citizen without legal permission to enter the country.
Antunez was then taken to the Eagle Pass South Border Patrol Station, where further investigation revealed a record of kidnapping, illegal re-entry into the United States, and sexual assault.
A federal judge in the Western District of Texas has now sentenced Antunez to 20 years in prison. Antunez filed an appeal with the Fifth Circuit on Tuesday, challenging the ruling.
“This is the message that we need to send to anyone who is thinking of coming into the United States illegally,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons. “Here we have an illegal alien who has already been convicted multiple times in our country, who thought he would be able to sneak in and live a life of freedom. He instead was met by federal agents and Lady Justice, and will spend the next two decades in federal prison before he’s deported yet again.”
The arrest was a part of Operation Take Back America, which is a national effort that utilizes all the available resources of the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security to repel the invasion of illegal aliens as well as end the influence of transnational cartels within United States borders.
