see also: in September 2007 News Releases:   CBP Seizes $2.5 Million Worth of Marijuana Inside Cargo Load at Texas Entry   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Achieves Container Security Initiative Milestone with 58 Operational Ports   CBP Agriculture Team Intercepts Narcotic Plant at Newark Airport   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Collects More Than $2.2 Million in Underpaid Antidumping Duty on Chinese Shrimp   Kiosks for Frequent International Fliers Now Available At Edmonton Airport   Port of Alexandria, Egypt Participates in the CBP Container Security Initiative   Ports of Colon and Manzanillo, Panama Begin Container Security Initiative Operations ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

El Paso, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers performing anti-terror inspections at border ports of entry in El Paso, West Texas and New Mexico this week stopped a total of 110 people who were violating U.S. immigration laws while attempting to enter the country.

During the last seven days, CBP officers identified a total of 44 intended immigrant cases (people with legitimate entry documents intending to live/work illegally in the U.S.), 34 imposters (people using a legitimate document not assigned to the person presenting the document) 18 false claims for U.S. citizenship by non-U.S. citizens, nine people attempting to enter the U.S. with counterfeit, fraudulent, or altered entry documents, and five people who attempted to enter the U.S. without inspection.

During the first 11 months of fiscal year 2007, area CBP officers identified a total 4,540 similar violations, which is ahead of the pace of last year’s 12-month total of 4,625 violations.

CBP officers working at area border crossings made a total of 34 drug seizures during the past seven days. They seized 3,385 pounds of marijuana in 30 busts and 36.1 pounds of cocaine in four additional seizures.

Area CBP officers made six agricultural and food seizures during the week, resulting in $900 in penalties being assessed. Dozens of other border crossers avoided penalty by declaring and then abandoning prohibited items at border ports. Undeclared prohibited items seized this week included raw chicken, fresh eggs, limes, oranges, guavas, quince and live bulbs. The interceptions of these prohibited items are important in preventing the introduction of pests and disease that pose a risk to the U.S. agriculture industry.

In addition, CBP officers this week also seized illegal cockfighting spurs, a live cockatiel and identified a trio of export violations generating $1,500 in penalties. While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all categories.

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 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.