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  4. Child Sexual Assault Fugitive Arrested by CBP Field Operations at Hidalgo International Bridge

Child Sexual Assault Fugitive Arrested by CBP Field Operations at Hidalgo International Bridge

Release Date
Thu, 04/09/2020

HIDALGO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge arrested a 29-year-old man from Colorado wanted on alleged child sexual assault charges from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office in Brighton, Colorado.

“Assisting our law enforcement partners in locating fugitives from justice is one of the many functions our CBP officers perform routinely,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez. “It’s a key part of our border security mission.”

CBP officers escort a wanted person at Hidalgo Port of Entry
CBP officers escort a wanted person at Hidalgo
Port of Entry.

On April 7, Gilberto Manuel Cortes, a U.S. citizen from Colorado, arrived from Mexico at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge through the pedestrian walkway. The initial inspection utilizing CBP law enforcement databases revealed that Cortes was a possible match to an arrest warrant and he was escorted to a secondary inspection area for verification. CBP confirmed Cortes’ identity through biometric verification and his arrest warrant on class 3 felony charges for sexual assault on a child.

Cortes was charged in March 2020 for an alleged sexual offense which occurred in September 2019 involving a 12-year-old female child. CBP OFO arrested Cortes and he was subsequently transported to the Hidalgo County jail where he will await extradition to Colorado.

Criminal charges are merely allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

For more information on the immigration inspection process visit this link on CBP.gov, Immigration Inspection Program.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021