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  4. CBP Arrests Two Men for Attempted Entry Posing as U.S. Citizens at the Hidalgo and Pharr International Bridges

CBP Arrests Two Men for Attempted Entry Posing as U.S. Citizens at the Hidalgo and Pharr International Bridges

Release Date
Wed, 01/10/2018

HIDALGO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo and Pharr International Bridges arrested two men for attempting to enter the U.S. posing as U.S. citizens in separate, unrelated incidents in the same day.

“Our officers are trained in document examination and interviewing techniques. That, coupled with officer experience, enables our frontline CBP officers to identify and apprehend those who use fraudulent or invalid documents in an attempt to enter the U.S.,” said Acting Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.

A CBP officer conducts a primary examination at South Texas port of entry
A CBP officer conducts a primary
examination of arriving U.S.-bound
traffic at a Laredo Field Office port
of entry

On Tuesday, Jan. 9, CBP officers assigned to the Pharr International Bridge encountered a 40-year-old man who applied for admission into the U.S. by presenting a Texas driver’s license and a U.S. birth certificate to substantiate his claim. The primary CBP officer referred him to Passport Control Secondary (PCS) for further inspection.

During secondary inspection, checks of national law enforcement databases revealed the man is a Mexican national with three prior removals and an arrest for burglary.

Later that same day, CBP officers assigned to the Hidalgo International Bridge encountered a 31-year-old man as he attempted to make entry to the United States as a pedestrian. The man was not in possession of any entry documents but claimed to be a United States citizen born in Chicago, IL. The primary CBP officer referred him to Passport Control Secondary for further inspection.

After checks of national law enforcement databases were conducted, it was discovered that the man was a Mexican national who had been previously deported.

CBP officers arrested the men and they were taken into custody for violations of U.S. immigration law.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021