EL PASO, Texas -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operation officers working at the El Paso port of entry on Tuesday arrested a man being sought on an outstanding sex offense against a child warrant. The subject was also being sought by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on a parole violation.
“Homeland security is our priority mission but every time we apprehended a wanted subject it helps make our community and our nation a safer place,” said Hector Mancha, CBP El Paso Port Director.
The arrest was made at approximately 2:30 p.m. at the Bridge of the Americas international crossing. CBP officers were processing arriving pedestrian traffic from Mexico when 47-year-old Jose Maria Pena, Jr. of Joshua, Texas, applied for entry. CBP officers performed a query on the documents he presented and received notice that he was a wanted person. CBP officers took custody of the subject and then confirmed the warrants. The man was turned over to the El Paso Police Department and booked into the El Paso County Jail.
A Texas Department of Criminal Justice internet wanted poster details the charges against the subject as well as his criminal history.
While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all categories.