see also: in January 2008:   Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism: A Year in Review   CBP, National Guard Announce Super Bowl Flight Restrictions   Cooperation Leads to Apprehension of International Fugitive   Border Patrol Seizes $109,944 Stashed in Vehicle   CBP Arrests Fugitive Arriving from Dominican into Puerto Rico   CBP and ICE Donate Thousands of Shoes to Charity   Operation Uniforce 8 ...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 ports of entry in El Paso, West Texas and New Mexico identified 122 immigration violations this week, a significant increase from the 96 violations recorded last week.  CBP officers also discovered prohibited agricultural items, uncovered numerous drug smuggling attempts, and identified other violations during the previous seven days.

CBP officers working at area ports of entry stopped a total of 122 people who were violating U.S. immigration laws while attempting to enter the country.  CBP officers identified a total of 58 intended immigrant cases (people with legitimate entry documents intending to live/work illegally in the U.S.), 25 imposters (people using a legitimate document not assigned to the person presenting the document) 16 false claims for U.S. citizenship by non U.S. citizens, 18 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.

Area CBP officers made 19 seizures of prohibited food and agricultural items this week, resulting in $4,200 in fines being assessed.  Prohibited items seized this week included pork skins, chorizo, chicharones, chicken eggs, quail eggs, avocados, oranges, tangerines, plums, sugar cane, guavas, potatoes, apples, lemons, peaches, mangoes, and live plants.  Dozens of other prohibited agricultural and food items were abandoned at the port of entry by border crossers who correctly declared their goods and avoided penalties of up to $300 for first time violations.

In addition to substantial illegal immigration and prohibited food seizure activity, area CBP officers made 42 marijuana seizures this week, confiscating 4,425 pounds of the drug.  They also seized four live chickens in another incident.  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 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.