C.B.P. News Release

CBP Officers in South Texas Apprehend Fugitives

(Thursday, July 22, 2010)

Hidalgo-Pharr, Texas – During a two-day period, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Hidalgo and Pharr International Bridges in Texas apprehended six fugitives saught by state law enforcement agencies.

Hidalgo CBP officers working the northbound pedestrian lanes yesterday came in contact with a male traveler identified as Juan Gabriel Sotelo, a U.S. citizen, age 31 from McAllen, Texas. A check of CBP national database identified Sotelo as a fugitive wanted by the McAllen, Texas Police Department on an alleged charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Sotelo was transferred to the custody of the McAllen Police Department.

Also yesterday, CBP officers working at the Pharr International Bridge came in contact with a male northbound traveler identified as Heriberto Lopez, a U.S. citizen, age 32 from Edinburg, Texas. A check of a CBP national database identified Lopez as a fugitive wanted by Edinburg, Texas Police Department on an alleged charge of burglary. Lopez was transferred to the custody of the Edinburg Police Department.

CBP officers working at the Hidalgo International Bridge came in contact with a northbound male traveler identified as Joel Hidalgo, a Cuban national, age 59 from McAllen, Texas. A check of a CBP national database identified Hidalgo as a fugitive wanted by the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office on an alleged charge of violating a protection order. Hidalgo was transferred to the custody of the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, Edinburg, Texas.

Tuesday Hidalgo CBP officers came in contact with a northbound male pedestrian identified as Christopher Canseco, a U.S. citizen, age 21 from San Benito, Texas. A check of a CBP national database identified Canseco as a fugitive wanted by the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office on an alleged charge of larceny. Canseco was transferred to the custody of the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office, Brownsville, Texas.

CBP officers working at the Hidalgo International Bridge Tuesday came in contact with a northbound male traveler identified as Carlos Rene Rendon, a U.S. citizen, age 35 from McAllen, Texas. A check of a CBP national database identified Rendon as a fugitive wanted by DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia on an alleged charge of failure to appear. Rendon was transferred to the custody of the Hidalgo, Texas Police Department and is now pending extradition proceedings back to DeKalb County.

Hidalgo CBP officers came in contact with a northbound male traveler identified as Edy Marco Cavazos Ruiz, a Mexican citizen, age 22 from Hidalgo, Texas. A check of a CBP national database identified Cavazos Ruiz as a fugitive wanted by the McAllen, Texas Police Department on an alleged charge of burglary. Cavazos Ruiz was transferred Tuesday to the custody of the McAllen Police Department.

Hector A. Mancha, CBP port director, Hidalgo-Pharr, said, “Our frontline officers continue to do great work in the screening of arriving international travelers. I commend our officers for a job well done and for their enforcement work in securing our nation’s borders.â€