C.B.P. News Release

CBP Officers Nab 47 Fugitives and Arrest 16 Violators in 7 Days at San Ysidro

(Wednesday, May 27, 2009)

San Ysidro, Calif. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers conducting routine border enforcement operations at the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports of entry last week apprehended 47 wanted fugitives and filed felony charges against 16 immigration law violators, officials announced today.

All 47 subjects were wanted on local, state, or federal felony warrants and were apprehended from Sunday, May 17 through Saturday, May 23.

CBP officers arrested 24-year-old Martin Valle, a U.S. citizen, when he came through the Otay Mesa border station at about 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20. A law enforcement query revealed he had active felony warrants for attempted murder with a $500,000 bail amount issued by the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and a parole violation from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

On Tuesday, May 19, at about 3 p.m. officers encountered 24-year-old Adrian Manon Martinez, when he entered the Otay Mesa border station as a pedestrian. He was taken into custody after a check revealed he had an outstanding no-bail felony warrant for a sexual offense issued by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

Officers subsequently determined Martinez was a citizen of Mexico with no legal documents to enter the United States so they placed an immigration hold on him to initiate removal from the United States at the conclusion of his criminal proceedings.

Officers encountered 57-year-old Jorge Fernandez Hernandez, a Mexican citizen, on Friday, May 22, at 11:30 a.m., when he entered the United States through the San Ysidro port. Hernandez was taken into custody after it was revealed he was wanted by the San Diego Sheriff’s Office on a no-bail warrant for robbery. CBP placed an immigration hold on Hernandez to initiate removal from the United States at the conclusion of his criminal proceedings.

The remaining 44 fugitive apprehensions made last week at the nation's busiest land border port and its neighbor facility Otay Mesa were for outstanding criminal charges such as burglary, fraud, crimes against the person, and dangerous drugs from police agencies nationwide.

CBP officers also arrested 16 immigration law violators and filed felony charges in federal court. Eight individuals were charged with alien smuggling and had illegal aliens hidden in either the trunks of vehicles or in specially built compartments. One of the individuals was apprehended with eight immigration documents and was also charged with unlawful possession of identity documents.

An additional eight subjects, who were arrested for re-entry after deportation, were also criminal aliens.

“Three Hundred million Americans depend on CBP to defend our nation’s borders,â€