C.B.P. News Release

CBP Officers Apprehend a Dangerous Gang Member At the Douglas Port of Entry

(Thursday, January 27, 2011)

Douglas, Ariz.—U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers apprehended a dangerous gang member who was attempting to leave the U.S. undetected. Through further investigation CBP officers learned that the man was an illegal immigrant who had strong gang member affiliations with an extensive criminal history.

On Jan. 19 at approximately 5 p.m., CBP officers were screening travelers for possible export violations while performing outbound operations that direct traffic from the U.S. into Mexico. The officers noticed a suspicious man who was walking south toward Mexico in the pedestrian lane and stopped him for an interview. The man was identified as a 25-year-old Mexican national and who had been present in the U.S. illegally. Further investigation by the CBP officers revealed that the man was a gang member with ties to a dangerous gang known as the Latin Kings, and had an extensive criminal record that included arrests for transporting and selling dangerous drugs, had been deported from the country, and had even served time for previously re-entering the country illegally.

The man was taken into custody by CBP officers and was transported to a secure detention facility while waiting an appearance before a Federal Magistrate on charges of re-entering the country after deportation.

A criminal complaint is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Office of Field Operations is responsible for securing our borders at the ports of entry. 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.

While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all categories.

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.

Contacts For This News Release
M. Carl Robinson
CBP Public Affairs
Phone: (520) 364-8486

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