Danny Gabriel Rooney, a 19-year-old from the United Kingdom, has been charged with unlawful entry into the United States. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced that Rooney was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol agents after being observed walking in Highgate, Vermont, near the Canadian border.
Rooney appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on May 27, 2025. Judge Doyle ordered his detention while the case is pending. Court documents indicate that Rooney does not have legal status in the United States.
The United States Attorney’s Office noted that the charges are allegations and that Rooney is presumed innocent until proven guilty. If convicted, he could face up to six months in prison. The sentence would be determined by the District Court based on advisory guidelines and statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher praised the work of the U.S. Border Patrol in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Arra is prosecuting, while Stephanie M. Greenlees represents Rooney.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and dismantling transnational criminal organizations.
