El Centro Sector Border Patrol Agents Nab Two “Sureño” Gang Members over the Holiday Weekend

CALEXICO, Calif. – Saturday, U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Calexico and El Centro stations apprehended two dangerous gang members during separate events.  Both men were attempting to make an illegal entry into the United States.
The first incident occurred when Border Patrol agents from the El Centro station arrested 29-year-old, Bernardo Amaya-Parra, a Mexican national as he entered the United States illegally from Mexico at around 8 a.m.  Agents encountered Amaya approximately 17 miles west of downtown Calexico, in a remote desert area.
The man had numerous gang-affiliated tattoos and later admitted to Border Patrol agents that he was an active member of the “Sureño 13” criminal street gang out of Livingston.  He was ordered removed from the U.S. on 05/17/2011 for previous immigration violations.
The second incident occurred at approximately 10:45 p.m. when Border Patrol agents encountered 34-year-old, Jose Santana-Miranda, making an illegal entry into the U.S. approximately 12 miles west of downtown Calexico.
The man was transported to the Calexico Border Patrol station where it was revealed he was a Mexican national and active member of the “Sureño 13” criminal street gang.  The gang member had been previously removed from the U.S. on 09/24/2008.
Both gang members are in Border Patrol custody and will be criminally prosecuted for re-entry of alien.  The total number of gang member arrests for this year is now at seventeen.
The El Centro Sector’s Community Awareness Campaign is a simple and effective program to raise public awareness on the indicators of crime and other threats.  We encourage public and private sector employees to remain vigilant and play a key role in keeping our country safe.  Please report any suspicious activity to the Border Community Threat Hotline at 1-800-901-2003.