SANTA TERESA, N.M.—U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to the Santa Teresa, New Mexico port of entry arrested a 24-year-old Mexican national wanted for murder on early Tuesday afternoon.
The discovery occurred at approximately 1 p.m. when officers conducting anti-terrorism duties conducted systems queries on the occupants of a 2013 Dodge Ram arriving from Mexico. Officers' records checks revealed that the driver of the vehicle, Ivan Ranyhit Parra Robles of Chihuahua, Mexico, had an outstanding warrant out of Mexico for homicide. CBP officers immediately took custody of Robles and contacted Special Agents with the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Marshals Service to arrange Robles' repatriation to Mexico with Procuraduria General de la Republica or PGR which is the Mexican equivalent to the FBI.
"This arrest demonstrates just one of the many roles CBP plays in keeping our communities safe by taking dangerous criminals off of our streets," said Santa Teresa Area Port Director Joanne E. Thale-Lembo. "I applaud our officers and agents in their role of ensuring this individual will be brought to justice."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers' primary mission is anti-terrorism; they screen all people, vehicles, and goods entering the United States, while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel into and out of the United States. Their mission also includes carrying out traditional border-related responsibilities, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration law, protecting the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases, and enforcing trade laws.