LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Border Patrol Agents at the Immigration Checkpoint north of Las Cruces arrested a convicted sexual offender over the weekend.
The apprehension occurred Saturday night, June 3, 2017, as Agents from the Las Cruces Station watched a 2007 Kia van approach the primary inspection lane at the immigration checkpoint, located on Interstate-25. Agents noticed several subjects inside of the vehicle. As the subjects were being questioned about their citizenship, agents noticed that several of the occupants began to display nervous behavior and hesitated to answer, when asked for their immigration status. This prompted agents to refer the vehicle to the secondary inspection lane for further investigation. Once the vehicle parked in the secondary inspection area, several subjects admitted to Agents that they were in the country illegally and that they were being smuggled to Albuquerque, New Mexico. The driver and occupants were taken into custody and escorted into the checkpoint for additional questioning and processing.
One individual, identified as a 35-year-old Mexican National named Ubaldo Morales Sotelo, had an extensive criminal history, including a conviction on a sexual assault charge, providing alcohol to a minor, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, sexual battery and unlawful sale and/or supply of alcohol to minors. Morales Sotelo was remanded to the Otero County Detention Facility to await prosecution.
These incidents demonstrate how vigilance by U.S. Border Patrol Agents and the ability to rapidly respond is helping stop the furtherance of dangerous criminals and illicit narcotics into our communities, while keeping our nation’s borders safe.