CBP Officers at the Roma International Bridge Stop Two Alien Smuggling Attempts and Arrested a Prior Deport

Roma, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Roma, Texas International Bridge stopped two alien smuggling attempts and arrested a prior deported illegal alien during the last week of May.

On May 23, CBP officers came in contact with a northbound pickup truck driven by a 52-year-old female Mexican citizen living in Conroe, Texas. The traveler was accompanied by two minor girls and by an adult couple. The driver identified the young girls as U.S. citizens. The adult couple also identified themselves as U.S. citizens.

All were referred to secondary for further inspection. CBP officers there established that the adult passengers were Mexican citizens and that the U.S. birth certificates they presented did not belong to them. They were arrested and the vehicle was seized.

On May 26, Roma CBP officers came in contact with a southbound 23-year-old male pedestrian headed into Mexico. The traveler identified himself as a Mexican national from Miguel Aleman, Tamaulipas, Mexico. After a check of a CBP database identified the traveler as having been previously deported, the man was arrested.

On May 30, officers came in contact with a northbound sedan driven by a 22-year-old male who identified himself as a U.S. citizen from Pasadena, Texas. The 20-year-old female passenger also identified herself as a U.S. citizen from Houston, Texas. She identified the two other passengers, a 12-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy, as U.S. citizens.

A CBP officer referred all four travelers to secondary for further inspection. Officers there established that the children were Mexican citizens and that the U.S. birth certificates presented did not belong to them. CBP officers arrested the adults and seized their vehicle.

Cris Cantu, CBP port director said, “Our frontline officers are doing great enforcement work in conducting primary name checks and in screening travelers and entry documents.” Cantu further said, “Travelers engaged in these types of illegal activities face severe consequences which can include jail time.”