CBP Officers at Hidalgo/Reynosa International Bridge Arrest Cuban National for Claiming U.S. Citizenship

(Friday, September 18, 2009)




Hidalgo, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Hidalgo/Reynosa International Bridge arrested a Cuban national after he made an oral false claim to U.S. citizenship.


On September 16, CBP officers working at the Hidalgo/Reynosa International Bridge came in contact with a northbound pedestrian. At primary, the male traveler identified himself as a U.S. citizen and as a resident of Miami. After the initial primary inspection, the traveler was referred to secondary for an intensive examination. When questioned as to his citizenship, the male traveler stated that he was a U.S. citizen.


A check of a CBP database identified the man as a deportable alien who had been ordered removed from the United States. The Cuban national, identified as Pablo Erid Seculi Tolosa, age 35 was arrested for making an oral false claim to U.S. citizenship. After his arrest, Seculi Tolosa was transferred to a local detention center where he remains incarcerated. He is also scheduled to appear before a U.S. Immigration Judge.


Hector A. Mancha, CBP port director, Hidalgo/Pharr said, “Our officers did great work in identifying this man as a deportable alien.â€