EL PASO, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers performing anti-terrorism inspections at El Paso area ports of entry made 116 immigration related apprehensions this week. They were also kept busy making numerous drug seizures, seizing prohibited food items, and apprehending fugitives.

CBP officers recorded 116 immigration violations at area ports this week including several cases involving people who had been previously deported. On Monday, CBP officers at the Paso Del Norte pedestrian crossing in downtown El Paso intercepted a 30-year-old Mexican resident who presented a counterfeit document to CBP officers at the port. CBP officers determined that Rodriguez had been previously removed from the U.S. on two occasions following a domestic violence charge in Ohio and a DUI arrest in Minnesota. He was booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility on reentry after deportation charges.

In another interesting immigration related case, CBP officers working the international rail crossing in downtown El Paso Tuesday removed an undocumented stowaway from a northbound train. CBP officers spotted the 44-year-old Mexican man while using a gamma ray inspection system. The man was a prior removal and was also booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility on reentry after deportation charges.

During the week, area CBP officers nabbed 59 intended immigrants. In these cases, individuals will use a legally issued border-crossing card (laser visa) to live or work in the U.S., which is not authorized. They also lose their documents and are generally returned to Mexico.

CBP officers stopped 39 imposters because of thorough document exams. Imposters generally will use a legitimate entry document assigned to another person and present it as their own. Violators generally lose their documents and are returned to Mexico. Area CBP officers also identified 18 people who made false claims to U.S. citizenship, attempted to enter with counterfeit or altered documents, and those attempting to enter without inspection.

CBP officers working at area ports made a total of 11 agriculture seizures during the previous seven day period. Violators paid $2,550 in fines associated with the seizures. Prohibited agricultural items seized this week included pork meat, bologna, oranges, guavas, avocados, mangos, sweet limes, grapefruit, and live plants.

Failure to declare prohibited items can result in a $300 penalty for an initial offense and $1000 for a repeat violation. If properly declared, prohibited food items can generally be abandoned at the port of entry without consequence.

Area CBP officers made a total of 27 drug busts during the previous seven days. CBP officers confiscated 2,421 pounds of marijuana in 26 seizures and 11.8 pounds of cocaine in one additional seizure.

CBP officers working area ports of entry apprehended a total of 18 fugitives this week. They also made one seizure of prescription drugs, a seizure of three live chickens, and one currency seizure.
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.

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