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  4. Criminal Migrants and Gang Members Arrested Throughout the RGV

Criminal Migrants and Gang Members Arrested Throughout the RGV

Release Date
Fri, 04/01/2022

EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley Sector agents arrested multiple gang members and criminal migrants with extensive criminal histories including murder and sexual assault convictions and charges.

On March 28, Weslaco Border Patrol Station (WSL) agents arrested a Mexican national during a marijuana smuggling event.  During processing, records revealed the subject was arrested in 2019 by the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office for attempt to commit murder. He was convicted and sentenced to two-years’ confinement and subsequently removed from the U.S.

Later that afternoon, Kingsville Border Patrol Station agents apprehended 67 migrants being smuggled in a tractor trailer at the Javier Vega Jr. Border Patrol Checkpoint. Record checks on a Salvadoran national revealed he is a Mara-Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang member and was previously removed from the U.S. in 2018.

On March 29, McAllen Border Patrol Station (MCS) encountered a group of 35 migrants after they illegally entered the U.S. near Hidalgo. At the station, a Salvadoran 24-year-old male’s criminal history revealed he was wanted for homicide in El Salvador.

On March 30, WSL agents apprehended a group of ten subjects near the Rio Grande in Progreso. Record checks revealed Edward Gonzalez, Mexican national, was convicted of rape and sentenced to 11-years’ incarceration in Indiana. He was subsequently removed from the U.S.

Early morning, on March 31, MCS processing agents encountered a Honduran national whose record checks revealed he is a MS-13 gang member. The subject was convicted of assault causing bodily harm to a family member in Fort Worth in 2008. He was also sentenced to over a year confinement for being unlawfully present in the U.S., after multiple deportations.

Later that morning, Falfurrias Border Patrol Station (FLF) agents apprehended 16 subjects on a ranch near Falfurrias. During processing, record checks on a Mexican national revealed he was convicted of viewing depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct in 2012 and sentenced to 36 months’ incarceration. Two years later he was sentenced to 14-months’ confinement for rape of a child.

That afternoon, MCS processing agents discovered another MS-13 gang member from El Salvador.

Today, MCS agents apprehended two groups near McAllen.  A Paisas gang member from Mexico was identified among one of the groups with a criminal history of cruelty to a child for which he was sentenced to two-years’ incarceration. A Honduran national with an arrest for homicide in his home country was revealed in the other group.

All subjects were processed accordingly.

Please visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to Customs and Border Protection.  Follow us on Twitter @CBPRGV and @USBPChiefRGV.

Last Modified: Apr 01, 2022