C.B.P. News Release

CBP Officers, Border Patrol Agents in Brownsville Arrest a U.S. Citizen on Federal Port Running Charges

(Wednesday, October 21, 2009)

Brownsville, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and Border Patrol agents arrested a U.S. citizen on federal port running charges at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge.

On Wednesday, October 21, CBP officers and Border Patrol agents at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge encountered and stopped a blue Chevrolet Blazer as he attempted to leave the United States and enter Mexico. As the driver was approached by CBP officers and Border Patrol agents he attempted to leave the port of entry without being inspected.

The driver, identified as Francisco Garcia, a 35-year-old U.S. citizen from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico tried to back his vehicle out of traffic to avoid further examination by CBP. CBP officers and Border Patrol agents working southbound traffic quickly surrounded the Chevrolet Blazer, extracted Francisco Garcia and placed him in handcuffs.

Garcia was arrested by CBP officers and Border Patrol agents and turned over to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents who continued their investigation and processed Garcia on federal port running charges.

Port running refers to incidents in which a person or vehicle is referred for secondary examination by a CBP officer in either an inbound or outbound scenario at a port of entry, and the driver proceeds onward, sometimes at a high rate of speed and attempts to avoid or bypass further inspection.

A fast-moving, erratic driving vehicle attempting to run the port poses a great danger to the safety of other traveling motorists and to the CBP officers themselves. The vehicle becomes a weapon and an immediate threat to public safety.

People who engage in port running activity also face significant civil or criminal consequences. The fine assessed for port running can be as high as $10,000. If a port running incident is prosecuted criminally, a conviction may result in jail time.

“A port runner puts everyone in the area in danger. CBP officers and Border Patrol agents prevented this man from leaving the southbound inspection area, thus keeping the public safe,â€