Border crosser put glue on fingers to hide identity, officials say

by Stephanie Russo - Nov. 3, 2010 05:17 PM
The Arizona Republic

A woman who crossed the U.S.-Mexican border Tuesday tried to hide her identity from customs by covering her fingerprints with glue, officials said.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the 37-year-old Mexico citizen applied for entry into United States at the San Luis Port of Entry.

However, officers detained her because she presented a U.S. passport with a photo that did not match her appearance. Customs and Border Protection said the passport did not belong to her.
During her detention, officers tried to take impressions of her fingerprints, but could not get clear prints. According to Customs and Border Protection, she had put glue on her fingers to hide her identity and criminal history.

After officers removed the glue from her fingertips, new prints revealed she was a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history.

Customs and Border Protection said this was the first encounter San Luis border officers have had with someone trying to alter their fingerprints.

"This is just an example of the desperate acts criminals are willing to commit when attempting to enter the U.S. illegally," Port Director William K. Brooks said in a press release. "Despite how creative they think they are when attempting to avoid detection, our CBP officers will catch them."

No further information about the woman's identity or criminal history was immediately available.

The woman was arrested and held for immigration processing. She may face

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