Enforcement Activity Continues at Area Ports of Entry

El Paso, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at ports of entry in El Paso, West Texas and New Mexico recorded 147 enforcement actions this week. CBP officers intercepted drug smugglers, illegal immigrants, fugitives and other violators during the last seven days.

“Our officers continue to work hard and remain vigilant and the results of their efforts clearly indicate that they are being successful,” said Francis Brown, Acting Director of Field Operations in El Paso. “Large quantities of illegal drugs, wanted people and those who have no legal authority to be in the United States are being intercepted every day.”

CBP officers working at area ports this week recorded 85 immigration violations. Intended immigrants made up a large group of the violators. A total of 42 were identified through thorough document exams. In these cases, individuals will use a legally issued border-crossing card (laser visa) to live or work in the U.S., which is not authorized. Violators generally lose their documents and are returned to Mexico. The balance of the immigration violations encountered included those making false claims to U.S. citizenship, impostors, visa overstays, alien smugglers, counterfeit documents and people entering the country without proper inspection.

CBP officers working at area ports made 29 drug seizures during the week confiscating 6,170 pounds of marijuana in 27 busts and smaller amounts of heroin and hashish in two additional seizures.

CBP agriculture specialists working at area ports this week made nine seizures of prohibited food and agricultural items resulting in $2,000 in fines being assessed. Prohibited items seized included pork, pickled pork skins, bologna, potatoes, guavas and avocados. It is important that people understand that these items are prohibited because they pose a threat of illness or disease to people, livestock or the agriculture industry.

CBP officers working at area ports also identified 19 people who were fugitives or otherwise being sought by law enforcement agencies. They also recorded four export violations and seized prohibited cock fighting spurs. 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.