see also: in January 2008:   Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism: A Year in Review   CBP, National Guard Announce Super Bowl Flight Restrictions   Border Patrol Seizes $109,944 Stashed in Vehicle   CBP Arrests Fugitive Arriving from Dominican into Puerto Rico   CBP and ICE Donate Thousands of Shoes to Charity   Operation Uniforce 8 ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Sarita, Texas — On Monday, Border Patrol Agents assigned to the Rio Grande Valley sector in Texas arrested an international criminal. Federal law enforcement partnerships aid in discovering subject’s prior criminal history.

The arrest occurred on January 28 when Kingsville Station Border Patrol agents working at the Sarita, Texas traffic checkpoint questioned two individuals in a vehicle. During questioning, it was determined that one of the occupants was not in possession of valid immigration documents to remain in the United States legally.

After a search of the subject’s background through the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System, CBP’s National Targeting Center, the Joint Terrorism Task Force and INTERPOL, it was determined that he had escaped from a prison in Northern Ireland in 1983 while serving a 23-year prison sentence on charges of possessing a bomb and a firearm. The subject was arrested and is pending deportation proceedings back to his country of origin.

"The primary purpose of checkpoint operations is to support enhanced national security efforts that deter, detect and prevent the threat of further terrorist attacks against the United States", stated Ronald D. Vitiello, chief patrol agent for the Rio Grande Valley Sector. "Consequently, law enforcement partnerships, coupled with Border Patrol checkpoint operation, continue to be a reliable means of detecting people who would attempt to enter the United States illegally and threaten the integrity of border security."

"Our excellent partnership with the United States Border Patrol has been instrumental in ensuring the proper screening of all detained illegal immigrants that pose a national security or criminal threat to our country and the communities along the border," said John A. Johnson, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s McAllen office.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.