see also: in March 2008:   Summer Months an Added Challenge for Border Patrol   Los Meses de Verano, un Reto Para la Patrulla Fronteriza   Border Patrol Agents Rescue 38 Illegal Aliens from Smuggling Attempt   Laredo North Station Border Patrol Agents Arrest MS-13 Member   Laredo Sector Border Patrol Agents Arrest 18th Street Gang Member   El Paso CBP Officers View HDTV: Hidden Drugs in TV Set ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers Online Decal/Transponder Purchase

contacts for this news release

El Paso, Texas – Border Patrol agents assigned to the El Paso station arrested two men with lengthy criminal histories over the weekend in two separate incidents after they attempted to illegally enter the United States.

On March 28, 2008, Border Patrol agents from El Paso apprehended a subject as he entered the United States illegally one-half mile west of the Paso Del Norte port of entry. Agents caught the subject attempting to hide inside a shed in the residential district near downtown El Paso. Initially, the individual claimed to be a citizen of Mexico. Agents transported the subject to Paso Del Norte Processing Center where he was entered into the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS). The results came back with a positive identification of the subject as a 37-year old U.S. citizen, and not a Mexican National as he originally claimed. The results also showed that he had two outstanding warrants for "Possession of Marijuana" and "Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution" as well as having been charged in Mexico for two alleged homicides. The FBI was notified and he was turned over to the El Paso County sheriff’s office pending an investigation.

The second subject was arrested Sunday, March 30, 2008, as Border Patrol agents from El Paso observed a subject enter the U.S. illegally 1.5 miles west of the Bridge of the Americas port of entry. Agents quickly responded and were able to apprehend the individual before he could disappear into a residential district. The subject was taken to the Paso Del Norte Processing Center for further investigation. During processing, record checks indicated that the subject, a 43-year-old Mexican National, also had an extensive criminal history to include approximately 50 arrests. Included in the criminal history were one count of "Homicide" and one count of "Assault with a Deadly Weapon" on a subject in the state of California. He was also previously sentenced to 24-months for "Assault on a Federal Officer". The subject is being held pending prosecution.

These latest arrests exemplify ongoing efforts by the Border Patrol to combat cross border criminal activity and highlight the success of ongoing border initiatives.

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.