CBP Officers at Calexico, Calif. Entry Apprehend Man Wanted for Homicide

(Monday, August 11, 2008)

Calexico, Calif. — A Mexican citizen wanted by the Long Beach Police Department on charges of homicide was detained Saturday morning by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Calexico downtown port of entry.

Mario Montejano-Lopez, a 57-year-old native of Mexico who resides in Mexicali, Baja California, was detained at about 11 a.m. after he entered the port via vehicle primary lanes from Mexico. CBP officers performed a name check based on the man's documents and discovered an outstanding arrest warrant for murder from the Long Beach Police Department.

After confirmation calls were made to the Long Beach Police Department, Montejano-Lopez was placed in the custody of the Calexico Police Department and transported to the Imperial County Jail to await extradition to Long Beach.

CBP officers working at the six land border ports of entry on the California-Mexico border have apprehended 1,561 wanted individuals so far this fiscal year. The fiscal year began on October 1, 2007.

CBP officials attribute the high number of apprehensions to the increased number of name and document checks officers are performing on travelers crossing the border at ports of entry.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/new ... 2008_4.xml