see also: in July 2006 News Releases:   SENTRI Participants Revoked for Agriculture Violations   Monthly Trade Payments to CBP Reach $5 Billion   Border Patrol, National Guard Partnership Helps Deny, Deter Illegal Immigration   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Offers Tips for Summer Border Travel   CBP Agriculture Specialist Intercepts Voracious Slug   Customs and Border Protection Has Five Drug Seizures In Five Days At The Detroit Border Crossings   Customs and Border Protection South Florida Marina Update ...more on cbp.gov:   Press Officers   CBP News Releases

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San Ysidro, CA – A 27 year-old U.S. citizen woman registered to participate in the SENTRI program was arrested Tuesday, July 18 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers at the San Ysidro port of entry after they found an undocumented migrant hidden in the vehicle she was driving, officials announced today.

CBP officers conducting pre-primary operations encountered Claudia Ramirez, a resident of San Ysidro, as she waited in line at about 1:20 p.m. to enter the United States through a designated SENTRI lane. As CBP officers inspected the vehicle Ramirez was driving, a 1990 Mazda MPV, they discovered a male juvenile hidden on the floor between the first and second row bench seats under a blanket.

The vehicle and occupants were escorted to the secondary inspection area for further investigation where it was confirmed the undocumented migrant was a 17-year old Mexican citizen. The juvenile was taken into CBP custody for processing and will be a material witness for the prosecution case.

Ramirez’ SENTRI pass was revoked and she was charged with alien smuggling. She was transported to the Metropolitan Correctional Center to await processing. The vehicle was seized by CBP.

“This is an another example of the vigilance employed at the ports of entry and our layered enforcement strategy,” said James Hynes, port director of the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports of entry. “To ensure the integrity of the SENTRI program, we will pursue prosecution of any participant who attempts to smuggle though the SENTRI lanes and in this case a complaint has been filed with the United States District Court.”

The SENTRI program, or Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection, was implemented at the Otay Mesa passenger port in 1995 and at the San Ysidro facility in 2000. More than 70,000 travelers from both sides of the border are currently registered in the vehicle SENTRI program. About 16 percent of all passenger vehicle traffic is processed through SENTRI designated lanes at the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports of entry.

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.