HIDALGO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge had a productive weekend in detecting violators of immigration law as well as persons being sought for outstanding arrest warrants.
“CBP Field Operations’ primary concern is the detection of those seeking to enter the United States illegally with illicit intentions,” said Port Director Efrain Solis Jr., Hidalgo/Pharr/ Anzalduas Port of Entry. “It is our responsibility to detect those violators amongst the thousands of other legitimate travelers and keep our citizens out of harm’s way.”
CBP officers over the weekend encountered five Mexican citizen travelers at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge pedestrian walkway that ultimately resulted being arrested for alleged violation of U.S. immigration law. In four of the situations, the alleged violators were imposters who presented valid Mexican border crossing cards and one had a counterfeit travel/entry document. Utilizing biometric verification and through outstanding observational techniques, CBP Field Operations arrested four males ages 19, 33, 40 and 41 and a 34-year-old female, all citizens from Mexico without valid documents to legally enter or reside in the United States.
These violators will be presented before a U.S. federal magistrate on criminal charges for alleged violation of U.S. immigration law.
In addition, three other persons wanted on outstanding arrest state warrants for violations ranging from controlled substance possession to failure to appear were also arrested and released to the local police departments.
CBP’s Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry is part of the South Texas Campaign, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations.