C.B.P. Arrests 15 for Immigration Violations

C.B.P. News Release

CBP Arrests 15 for Immigration Violations in Nov. at Hidalgo-Pharr

(Monday, December 06, 2010)

Hidalgo/Pharr, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers arrested 15 people, eight women and seven men, all for alleged violations of U.S. immigration law during the month of November.

On Nov.14, CBP officers working a the Hidalgo International Bridge came in contact with a northbound 2008 Chevy Tahoe SUV and its driver, a 30-year-old female U.S. citizen from Robstown, Texas. The driver was accompanied by a 33-year-old U.S. citizen from Corpus Christi, Texas and by two minor girls. A CBP officer referred the driver and passengers to secondary for further inspection.

In secondary, the driver and adult passenger allegedly identified the young girls as U.S. citizens and presented U.S. birth certificates as proof. CBP officers interviewed the women and established that the two young girls were allegedly Mexican citizens and that the U.S. birth certificates did not belong to them. The girls were released to their Mexican citizen mother and returned to Mexico. CBP processed the passenger and driver for alleged violations of immigration law. In addition, two other travelers were also arrested for similar immigration law violations involving children during the month of November.

Throughout the month, CBP officers intercepted and arrested 11 other persons for various alleged violations of immigration law, including alleged reentry after prior deportation, alleged impostors, alleged false claims to U.S. citizenship, an allegedly counterfeit B1/B2 non-immigrant visa and an alleged photo substitution in a U.S passport.

CBP officers seized two vehicles and detained the 15 travelers on alleged violations of U.S. immigration law.

Hector A. Mancha, CBP port director, Hidalgo/Pharr said, “I commend our officers for their roles in intercepting these people as they allegedly attempted to enter our country in violation of U.S. immigration law.â€