Border Blotter: Crime at the Border that DC Pretends Isn’t Happening – 8/1/22
Border Patrol Agents Arrest Man Convicted of Manslaughter
DEL RIO, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to Del Rio Sector arrested a man, convicted of voluntary manslaughter, shortly after he illegally entered the United States, July 26.
Brackettville agents apprehended a group of five migrants just before 6 p.m. They were transported to the Brackettville Station where it was discovered, through record checks, that one subject, Juan Carlos Perez-Reyes, 32, of Mexico, was convicted of first-degree manslaughter in 2009 in Oklahoma and was subsequently sentenced to 15 years confinement. Perez-Reyes was deported in November 2021.
As a convicted felon, he faces a charge of 8 USC § 1326 – re-entry after deportation which carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
During fiscal year 2022, Oct. 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022, Del Rio Sector agents have encountered more than 1,651 criminal migrants.
All subjects are processed in accordance with U.S. Customs and Border Protection policies.
Laredo Sector Border Patrol arrest sex offender and gang members
LAREDO, Texas – Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents arrested three gang members and one convicted sex offender over a 24-hour period.
The first arrest occurred on July 30, when agents from the Hebbronville Station apprehended an undocumented individual. The person was identified as Hermelindo Vicente-Careto, a 34-year-old Guatemalan national. Record checks revealed that Hermelindo Vicente-Careto had a prior felony conviction for Child Molestation and a warrant for probation violation out of Doraville, Georgia.
Later that evening, agents from the Laredo South Station apprehended two undocumented individuals, both Mexican nationals, in Laredo. Records check revealed that both Ramon Gomez-Perales and Juan Martin Lopez-Jimenez had multiple arrests and felony convictions. They are also self-admitted members of the Paisa gang.
On July 31, agents apprehended a group of four undocumented individuals south of Laredo, Texas. Record checks identified that one of the individuals, Amilcar Gomez-Lucas, a 24-year-old Guatemalan nation, as being a member of the 18th Street gang.
All will be processed accordingly.
Three Drug Seizures in One Day in San Ysidro Vehicle SENTRI Lanes
SAN DIEGO – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted three SENTRI members in one day with narcotics hidden in their vehicles at the San Ysidro port of entry, seizing more than 72 pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl.
“The backbone of our SENTRI program relies on the persons enrolled being Trusted Travelers, so that we can speed inspections in those dedicated lanes,” said Mariza Marin, CBP Port Director at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. “However, we know that those individuals are low risk, and not no risk, so while we speed these travelers along, they are not exempt from inspection. Seizures like these are one of the reasons that our SENTRI members are always inspected by our officers when entering the United States.”
On July 21, at about 6:10 a.m., officers stopped a trusted traveler using the SENTRI lanes with 51.94 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in their vehicle’s spare tire well. Not even an hour later, officers discovered another individual in the dedicated SENTRI lane with 7.63 pounds of fentanyl powder in the undercarriage of his car. Shortly after, at about 7:35 a.m., a third seizure was detected when a SENTRI holder was found with 30.16 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in the rear bumper and undercarriage of their vehicle traveling via the SENTRI lanes.
The Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) is a program along the southwest land border that allows expedited screening for pre-approved, low risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Participants of the program may utilize dedicated “express lanes” to enter the United States at land ports of entry across the nation. All SENTRI applicants undergo a rigorous background check, provide biometric information including fingerprints, and an in-person interview as part of the approval process.
CBP Trusted Traveler Programs have exceeded over 10 million total members and are expected to receive 3.5 million applications in fiscal year 2022. This would mark the most applicants ever in a one-year period since the creation of the program.
The program’s participants enjoy the benefits of expedited travel and decreased wait times at U.S./Mexico border crossings. Although the pre-approved participants are trusted, these low-risk commuters are still subject to search and verification that they are following the law and Trusted Traveler program rules.
“CBP would like to remind the public that the ability to use these designated SENTRI lanes is a privilege. Violations of any kind will lead to expulsion from the program,” said Anne Maricich, CBP Acting Director of Field Operations in San Diego. “SENTRI lanes have always been a win-win for us, allowing for lower wait times for frequent border crossers, and more information so our officers can sort traffic and focus more on higher risk inspections. For the program to be effective though, our officers continue to stay vigilant to spot anyone who might attempt illegal activity, even if they were considered lower risk.”
The three seizures totaled 89.73 pounds of fentanyl and methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $272,180.
The narcotics and vehicles were seized by CBP officers. The drivers were turned over to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations.
RGV Agents Apprehend 195 Migrants and 283 Pounds of Marijuana
EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol (RGV) agents disrupted two human smuggling events, seized 283 pounds of marijuana from two narcotics smuggling events, and encountered another large group over the weekend.
Yesterday, Rio Grande City Border Patrol Station (RGC) agents seized 236 pounds of marijuana when camera operators observed a heavily laden ATV traveling north from the Rio Grande near La Casita. Responding agents encountered the ATV as it travelled drive back south toward the river and several bundles dropped off the vehicle. Agents recovered the bundles, with an estimated street value of more than 188,000 USD, and camera operators observed the subjects swim back to Mexico.
On July 29, Fort Brown Border Patrol Station (FTB) agents apprehended more than 47 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of more than 37,000 USD when camera operators notified agents of two subjects carrying bundles near Brownsville. FTB agents responded to the area and encountered three subjects loading bundles into a GMC Yukon. The subjects abandoned the bundles and fled. Agents conducted a search of the area but were unable to locate any subjects.
On July 30, Weslaco Border Patrol Station agents responded to a request for assistance from the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office concerning a suspected stash house located in Weslaco. Agents and local law enforcement apprehended nine Salvadoran citizens, all illegally present in the U.S. No caretaker was identified.
Later that evening, RGC camera operators observed a Chevrolet SUV load up migrants in a well-known smuggling area near Bazan. Responding agents encountered the suspect vehicle causing multiple subjects to immediately bail out. Agents apprehended five migrants all determined to be illegally present in the U.S. One of the subjects was evaluated by emergency medical services and transported to the hospital for further treatment.
In addition, RGC agents encountered a large group totaling 181 noncitizens in Starr County. The group consisted of 56 single adults, 62 family members, and 63 unaccompanied children. The migrants are from Central and South America, and Cuba.
All subjects were processed accordingly.
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