An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Archived Content
    In an effort to keep CBP.gov current, the archive contains content from a previous administration or is otherwise outdated.
  1. Home
  2. Newsroom
  3. Local Media Release
  4. CBP Arrests Previously Deported Criminal in San Juan

CBP Arrests Previously Deported Criminal in San Juan

Release Date
Thu, 09/20/2018

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers arrested Tuesday an alien from the Dominican Republic found in the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport before boarding a flight to Punta Cana. 

Juan Francisco Avila-Castillo, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, appeared Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marshall Morgan, charged with a violation to Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326, for reentry after removal or deportation subsequent to a conviction for commission of an aggravated felony. 

CBP Officers remain vigilant of passenger that try to elude detection.
CBP Officers remain vigilant of
passenger that try to elude detection.  

“A CBP officer is responsible for determining the nationality and identity of each applicant for admission and the detection of ineligible aliens, including previously deported criminals,” stated Edwin Cruz, San Juan Area Port Director.

Mr. Avila-Castillo presented CBP Officers a Dominican Republic passport card and driver’s license, and no document of authorized stay in the United States. 

In secondary inspection, databases revealed that a Monroe County court in New York convicted Mr. Avila-Castillo in 2001, for Criminal Possession Controlled Substance and sentenced him to 8 years of imprisonment.  He was removed in August 2006. 

Assistant US Attorney Evelyn Canals will be in charge of the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Puerto Rico. 

If convicted Mr. Avila-Castillo faces imprisonment for not more than 20 years or a fine, or both.

All defendants are innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

CBP’s mission is to facilitate travel while maintaining the highest standards of security for those who live here and for those who come to visit.  On a typical day last year, CBP officers processed more than 1 million travelers arriving airports, seaports or border crossings. 

Follow us on Twitter: @CBP @CBPCaribbean @CBPFlorida.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021