Brownsville CBP Officers Intercept 12 People for Alleged Violations of Immigration Law

May 05, 2010 - Brownsville, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Brownsville port of entry intercepted 12 individuals for alleged violations of immigration law, including a man who allegedly presented false documents in an attempt to enter the country and a previously deported Mexican man who allegedly presented himself as a U.S. legal permanent resident to CBP officers.

The first significant incident occurred on Saturday, May 1, at Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge when a 24-year-old male allegedly attempted to enter the country as a passenger in a taxi without legal entry documents. At CBP primary the male passenger of the taxi presented a duly issued U.S. birth certificate and claimed to be a United States citizen born in Houston, Texas. A primary CBP officer noted discrepancies with the birth certificate and referred the subject for a secondary inspection. In secondary, CBP officers utilized a CBP database and determined the birth certificate presented was not issued to the person being inspected. CBP officers identified the male passenger as a Mexican citizen from Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, Mexico with no legal immigration documents to enter or reside in the United States.

Another significant case took place at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge on May 4, when CBP officers came in contact with a red Dodge Ram driven by a male identified as a 56-year-old Mexican citizen who presented himself as a legal permanent resident to primary CBP officers. At primary a CBP officer’s interview with the subject lead to a referral to CBP secondary for further examination. At secondary CBP officers determined the male had been previously deported from the United States.

In the past 10 days CBP officers have foiled 12 cases of alleged immigration law violations. In all cases, CBP officers seized the documents presented; the eight men and four women were taken into custody.

“Enforcing immigration laws on the frontline is a vital part of protecting our borders. I commend our officers for their vigilance, their service and integrity as they intercept these alleged imposters,” said Michael Freeman, CBP port director, Brownsville.