20-Year Secret: KISD Custodian Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry After Decades of Employment

A Former Killeen ISD employee pleads guilty to illegal re-entry charges.

Killeen ISD Custodian Ofelia Negrete-Arriaga Pleads Guilty

According to KXXV, Ofelia Negrete-Arriaga was employed at Harker Heights High School at three different points in time for a total of more than twenty years. Court documents show that a citizen report led to the arrest and charges of illegal reentry.

Ofelia Negrete-Arriaga Pleads Guilty to Felony Title 8 Charges

Court documents show Arriaga was deported to Mexico in 2011, but she re-entered the United States illegally 6 different times. According to KXXV, she worked at Harker Heights High School on three separate occasions between 2003 and 2024.

Killeen ISD Responds to the Arrest

In a statement obtained by KXXV, Karen Rudolph of Killeen ISD said "Killeen ISD remains focused on maintaining a safe, supportive learning environment for every student and ensuring our schools are places where all children can learn, grow, and thrive."

Read More: Federal Agents Arrest KISD Worker For Falsifying Documents 

Immigration Law Relating to Employment in Schools

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 states that it is illegal for school systems to knowingly hire anyone in the United States illegally. It is also illegal to continue employment once an illegal immigrant’s illegal status is known.

Penalties for Schools Not in Compliance with federal Immigration Law

Immigration and Customs Enforcement can file civil and criminal charges against employers that hire illegal immigrants. Civil fines are based on the amount of violations. Criminal charges are levied for repeat offenders. Improper paperwork can also result in fines, even if an employee is lawfully employed.

Other Incidents Involving ICE and Falsified Employment Records

Des Moines, Iowa, Public Schools has been in the news over the past few weeks following the arrest of Superintendent Ian Andre Roberts. Roberts was placed on unpaid leave after he was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. According to the New York Times, Roberts was paid a base salary of about $286,000 after he filed employment eligibility forms falsely claiming to be an American citizen. Roberts had a social security number and a driver’s license.