see also: in December 2006 News Releases:   William K. Brooks is New Port Director for San Luis, Ariz. Port of Entry   "Santa" Visits Orphans at Port of Entry in San Luis, Ariz.   CBP Border Patrol Seizes $736,000 in Cocaine   CBP Officers Seize $2.4 Million in Cocaine, Process Murder Fugitive   Bird Smuggling Attempt Thwarted at the Border   CPB Border Patrol Agents Seize More Than 2,042 Pounds of Marijuana ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

San Luis, Ariz – For the second time in three weeks, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers at the San Luis port of entry have apprehended a person wanted on charges of attempted homicide, demonstrating their dedication and perseverance in keeping our country safe from dangerous people. This apprehension brings the total of attempted homicide suspects caught at the port since November 27th to three.

At a little past 11:00 last night, 20-year-old Julian Angel Tamayo attempted to enter the United States on foot through the San Luis port of entry. When CBP officers asked routine questions about his citizenship and purpose for entering the country, he refused to show any identification and was very hesitant to answer questions. When he asked the officers to allow him to return to Mexico, their suspicions about his identity and reasons for being nervous grew.

Since Customs and Border Protection officers are charged with securing our nations’ borders at the ports of entry, preventing terrorists from entering and catching others who are attempting to enter fraudulently or smuggling contraband, the officers were determined to find out who Tamayo was and why he did not want to identify himself. The officers then escorted Tamayo into the building, where they checked his fingerprints using the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), which is connected to the National Criminal Information Center (NCIC) database.

The results came back almost immediately, showing a warrant out of Maricopa County for Tamayo’s arrest on charges of Attempted Homicide. He was secured and held until officers from the San Luis Police Department arrived to take custody.

On November 27, CBP Officers at the San Luis port of entry apprehended 27-year-old Francisco Esquivel and 18-year-old Martha Davalos in connection with an attempted murder in Yuma, AZ.

From Friday through Sunday, CBP Officers at the ports of entry in Arizona seized 472 pounds of marijuana and 15 pounds of cocaine in nine failed smuggling attempts, and caught four people with warrants for their arrest for weapons, assault, drug possession, and trafficking in stolen property charges. They also stopped four attempts to smuggle people into the country and ten attempts by people trying to enter using fraudulent documents.

CBP Agriculture Specialists stopped seven attempts to smuggle prohibited agricultural products, including oranges, tangerines and pork, collecting $1,720 in penalties.

The Office of Field Operations is responsible for securing our borders at the ports of entry. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers’ primary mission is anti-terrorism; they screen all people, vehicles, and goods entering the United States, while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel into and out of the United States. Their mission also includes carrying out traditional border-related responsibilities, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration law, and protecting the nation’s food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.

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 the nation’s borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.