Domestic abuser sentenced for third illegal reentry into US
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — An illegal immigrant from Mexico on Thursday was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to illegal reentry of an alien after deportation.
According to court documents, on Sept. 19, 2024, Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation officers were notified by the Indiana Department of Correction that Pedro Zuniga-Lopez, 35, of Mexico, an illegal alien, was in custody following a conviction for domestic battery with bodily injury to a pregnant woman, and was scheduled to be released on Oct. 22, 2024.
Zuniga-Lopez had previously been deported to Mexico several times, including once in 2018 and twice in 2020. He was prohibited from entering the United States at any time because he had been convicted of at least one aggravated felony. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, aliens found guilty of certain crimes may be excluded from legal reentry to the country.
Zuniga-Lopez has a lengthy criminal history, including two previous federal convictions for illegal reentry, as well as two convictions for breaking and entering, and domestic battery with bodily injury to a pregnant woman.
In 2024, while in the United States unlawfully, Zuniga-Lopez viciously assaulted his own girlfriend, who was pregnant with his child, after she stated she did not want his drugs in her home. He swung at her face with closed fists and continued to punch her after she fell to the ground. The victim’s three young children witnessed the attack and screamed, “Hey mommy, stop!” The day after the victim made this report to police, Zuniga-Lopez broke a window to her home and forced himself inside. He then fled from police before he was arrested.
Zuniga-Lopez was convicted and sentenced in Marion County for this offense.
“While in the United States unlawfully, this defendant has repeatedly broken the law, demonstrating time and time again a fundamental lack of respect for this country. Additionally, this defendant is a proven menace to society, including toward some of the most vulnerable individuals in our community — women and children. Our office is committed to working with our ICE partners to charge and convict aliens that illegally re-enter the country, especially if they are a risk to public safety.”
John E. Childress, acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.
“Our ICE Officers work tirelessly to protect the homeland through our efforts with border security, national security and our drive to keep the public safe. Criminal aliens that continue to cross into our country need to face consequences to discourage them committing crimes that endanger our communities. We will continue to work with our federal partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecute violent felons like Zuniga-Lopez, who has multiple convictions and removals from the U.S.”
Douglas Thompson, assistant field office director of enforcement and removal operations Chicago.
