U.S. CBP Officers Arrest Illegal Alien at Puerto Rican Airport

San Juan, Puerto Rico – A citizen of the Dominican Republic was arrested this morning by Customs and Border Protection officers after attempting to travel using a fraudulent Puerto Rico driver’s license as means of identification.

Jairo Marte-Gomez, 34, was approached by a CBP officer before boarding a Jet Blue airlines flight bound to New York, presenting a Puerto Rico driver’s license under the name of Juan D. Mojica Rivera.

Marte-Gomez was referred to secondary inspection for closer examination as the license appeared to be altered. During the interview Marte- Gomez claimed to be an American citizen born in Puerto Rico.

A fingerprint examination revealed a prior immigration encounter in which he was detained by Border Patrol agents and removed on June 3, 2005.

Marte-Gomez will make an initial appearance later today at the US District Court facing charges for violation of Title 8 of the United States Code, Section 1325, for entering at a time or place not designated by immigration officers.

“Every day, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers are vigilant seeking individuals who try different means to reach the US and circumvent detection,” said Marcelino Borges, director of field operations for CBP in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. “CBP Officers are trained to detect counterfeit and/or fraudulent documents and continually use their skills to deter illegal immigration.”

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.