United States Customs and Border Protection Recent Arrests
LAPR Arrested for Smuggling Methamphetamine at Checkpoint
YUMA, Ariz. – Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Interstate 8 Immigration Checkpoint arrested a Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence (LAPR) male from Mexico after he attempted to smuggle five packages of methamphetamine on Thursday.
At approximately 8:30 a.m., Wellton Station agents referred a black 2012 Buick four-door sedan to the secondary inspection area after a Border Patrol K-9 in the primary inspection lane positively alerted to an odor it was trained to detect. Agents discovered 3.2 pounds of methamphetamine in the driver’s side rear quarter panel of the vehicle. The narcotics are worth $9,800.
The male driver, a 35-year-old LAPR residing in San Luis, was arrested. The vehicle and all contraband were seized.
U.S. Border Patrol Agents Rescue Distressed Immigrant
During morning hours on Thursday, U.S. Border Patrol agents responded to an area where they viewed an oncoming train, and detected a man on top of the train making hand gestures. Agents successfully communicated with the train’s engineer who was able to perform an emergency stop.
U. S. Border Patrol agents helped a 34-year-old male Mexican National from the top of the train car. Agents discovered the man in distress had suffered an injury to his ankle. The subject also complained about pain to his ribcage and indicated he had injured himself attempting to get on the train in El Paso.
Agents medically assessed the subject and provided him with initial treatment for a suspected broken ankle. An ambulance transported him to Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center where was provided additional medical attention and cleared for travel and was incarcerated.
The subject admitted to agents that he had illegally entered the United States on June 20 in El Paso, Texas.
U.S. Border Patrol Agents actively train to save lives and are readily available to deploy all of their assets and abilities to any emergent situation.
During fiscal year 2018, U.S. Border Patrol Agents in the El Paso Sector have rescued 26 immigrants in distress, and have witnessed zero immigrant deaths.
CBP Officers at Laredo Port of Entry in 48 Hours Apprehend Two Travelers on Warrants for Sex-related Offenses Against Children
“CBP officers play a critical role safeguarding the border at our ports of entry and the back to back apprehensions of these two individuals on active warrants for sex-related assault charges involving child victims illustrates our steadfast commitment to CBP’s border security mission,” said Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry.
The most recent apprehension occurred on Thursday, June 21, at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge. CBP officers conducted a primary examination on a male bus passenger arriving from Mexico and referred him to secondary for further inspection due to a possible match to an outstanding warrant. CBP officers conducted a fingerprint check and utilizing national law enforcement databases confirmed his identity as 44-year-old Jose Natividad Betancourt, a United States citizen from Houston, Texas, wanted in Ft. Bend County on outstanding felony warrants for aggravated sexual assault, indecency with a child. CBP officers transported Betancourt to Webb County jail for adjudication of the warrant.
On June 20, CBP officers at the same bridge referred a 1998 Chevy Trailblazer for a secondary examination due to a possible match of passenger Norberto Lopez Hurtado, a 45-year-old Texas lawful permanent resident, to an outstanding warrant. Further examination using biometric verification and national law enforcement database checks confirmed his identity and also confirmed that he was the subject of an outstanding felony warrant from Gillespie County of Continuous Sexual Assault of a Child, Victim Under 14. CBP officers transported Lopez Hurtado to Webb County jail for adjudication of the warrant.
Charges and allegations contained in criminal complaints are merely accusations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Houlton Sector Border Patrol Agents Arrest Guatemalan National
JACKMAN, Maine — U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Jackman Station arrested a Guatemalan national Thursday who had entered the United States illegally near the Jackman Port of Entry.
The Guatemalan national, who had a valid Canadian work visa and was living legally in Canada, stated he was attempting to get to New York City to find a better paying job.
A concerned citizen notified Border Patrol agents of a person walking south on Route 201 away from the international border. The agents located the subject who admitted that he was in the United States illegally. The subject was processed for removal from the United States and sent back to Canada.
“The arrest of this alien who illegally entered the United States illustrates the significant role that citizens can and do play in helping the U.S. Border Patrol secure our nation’s border,” said Patrol Agent in Charge Jeffrey Ewings of the Jackman Station. “The concerned citizen’s call is a perfect example of if you see something, say something.”
Champlain Agents Arrest Bulgarian Illegal Border Crosser with Criminal Conviction
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York is prosecuting Galabov for illegal entry under 8 USC 1325. At the conclusion of his criminal case, Galabov will be removed from the United States and returned to Bulgaria.
“The arrest of this criminal alien who illegally entered the United States illustrates the significant role that citizens can and do play in helping the U.S. Border Patrol secure our nation’s border,” stated Champlain’s Station Patrol Agent in Charge Norm Lague. “The concerned citizen’s call prevented a convicted felon from successfully entering the United States. If you see something, say something.”
Early Wednesday morning, Champlain Station Border Patrol agents received a citizen call reporting a man walking in a field about half a mile south of the border. Agents responded, located the man, and questioned him regarding his immigration status. He admitted he had entered the U.S. illegally. Agents placed him under arrest and transported him to the Champlain Station for additional records checks and processing.
Those checks revealed that Galabovhas a criminal conviction in Bulgaria that makes him inadmissable for entry into the United States.
The Swanton Sector is responsible for securing the land border between ports of entry in Vermont, New Hampshire and northeastern New York. The assistance of citizens is invaluable to the U.S. Border Patrol’s security mission and they welcome community members to help them keep our nation’s borders safe and report suspicious activity at 1-800-689-3362.
For more on Customs and Border Protection’s mission at our nation’s ports of entry with CBP officers and along U.S. borders with Border Patrol agents, please visit the Border Security section of the CBP website.
[Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection -/- Media Relations]
[Photo Credits: Featured photo inserted by Openeyesopinion.com (credits embedded) | Intext photos courtesy of US CBP]
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