An illegal immigrant from Mexico, found unlawfully in the United States for a third time in just over a year, has been arrested in Vermont by Immigration and Customs Enforcement as part of an unrelated criminal investigation, records show.

ICE found Rey David Velasco Rodriguez, 31, in Williston while conducting a separate criminal alien investigation near the Texas Roadhouse restaurant on Dec. 26, federal court records show.

The surveillance also included LaQuinta Inn & Suites on Blair Park Road, where Velasco Rodriguez was taken into custody, records show.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Vermont said Velasco Rodriguez was uncooperative when ICE deportation officers asked him to identify himself.

His lack of cooperation forced ICE to take him to St. Albans where he could be fingerprinted and properly identified, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt said a detention motion filed in federal court.

Ophardt, chief of the criminal division, maintained Velasco Rodriguez was a serious risk to flee. He cited his repeated and recent violations of immigration laws, his failure to identify himself upon request, and his illegal presence in the United States. 

Federal Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle agreed this week to have Velasco Rodriguez detained until at least Jan. 12 when he would be provided a probable cause hearing about his arrest.   If a grand jury indicts Velasco Rodriguez in the interim, the hearing will become his criminal arraignment.

Velasco Rodriguez had initially attempted to back away from the scene, but an ICE agent pulled his vehicle in behind the suspect car, court records show.

The arresting federal agent said he was wearing his ICE issued bulletproof vest “that clearly identified myself as an Immigration Officer while having my badge clearly displayed.”

Velasco Rodriguez initially refused to open his door and struggled to roll down his window, ICE reported.  He was eventually removed from the car.

Velasco Rodriguez “refused to identify himself to me and fellow officers,” the agent said in court papers.  A supervisory agent asked Velasco Rodriguez in Spanish if he had any documentation to be in the country, but the suspect gave an unclear answer, ICE said.

The supervisor asked again if Velasco Rodriguez was here legally,  and he claimed he was here properly, ICE said.  The suspect would not provide his identity and it was at that point that investigators determined he would be brought to Homeland Security in St. Albans to trace his fingerprints, ICE said.

A fingerprint check showed Velasco Rodriguez had been issued an expedited removal notice Sept. 3, 2024 at Douglas, Arizona for being in the country illegally, records show.

Velasco Rodriguez was found again three days later in Douglas, Arizona, court records show.  He admitted he had illegally re-entered the United States the day before, Sept. 5, 2024, records show.

Velasco Rodriguez, who was given a break during his first arrest when returned to Mexico with no charges, got another break during his second arrest.  Authorities agreed to reduce his second arrest from a felony charge to a misdemeanor, and he pleaded guilty to illegal entry, records show. 

He was sentenced to 30 days on Sept. 24 with credit for time served.  Velasco Rodriguez was ordered removed again on Oct. 5, 2024.

It was unclear when he illegally entered the country the third time and why he came to Vermont, officials said.