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TUCSON, Ariz – Intense scrutiny of travelers at the Arizona ports of entry has resulted in the apprehension of 40 fugitives since July 1st, including two men wanted in Arizona on sex offense charges.

“Our mission is to protect our country’s borders at the ports of entry,” said Director of Field Operations Donna De La Torre. “We take this responsibility very seriously and the increased attention paid to travelers has resulted in an impressive number of fugitives being apprehended while trying to come into the United States.”

At around midnight last night, 43-year-old Ramon Velasquez was arrested at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport as he arrived on a flight from Mexico. CBP officers pre-screening passenger names prior to the plane arriving discovered a warrant for his arrest on charges of sexual assault out of Yavapai County. CBP officers then waited for him as he exited the plane and immediately took him into custody. He was turned over to the Phoenix Police Department for processing.

In the afternoon on July 4, CBP officers at the Lukeville port of entry were screening people entering the country on foot and discovered a warrant out of Phoenix for the arrest of 32-year-old Omar Figueroa on charges of child molestation. He was immediately taken into custody and turned over to Pima County Sheriff deputies for processing.

Since July 1, CBP officers at the ports of entry in Arizona have apprehended 40 people with both national and local warrants for their arrest. The warrants were for a variety of charges including sexual assault, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamines, aggravated assault, larceny, child fondling, sale of marijuana, parole and probation violations, aggravated DUI, failure to appear, and contempt of court. The fugitives were wanted in Arizona, California, and Colorado.

Since the beginning of the fiscal year (October 1, 2005), CBP officers at the Arizona ports of entry have apprehended 569 fugitives with both national and local warrants on charges ranging from failure to appear to First Degree Murder.

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.