Felon Apprehended By CBP Agents At Arizona Border Sentenced To 57 Months In Prison, Banned For Life

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Tucson, Ariz. – A 40 year-old male from Obregon, Sonora, Mexico was apprehended by Nogales Border Patrol agents in early March for attempting to illegally re-enter the United States. As a result, on September 12 the Mexican national was sentenced to 57 months in prison.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted Marco Castro-Díaz after he was apprehended on March 5, 2011. During processing at the Nogales Station, the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) revealed Castro-Díaz was convicted in Maricopa Country in 1997 for attempted residential burglary and was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

Record checks also indicated Castro-Díaz was previously deported from the United States after serving his sentence. Following initial processing, the Tucson Sector’s Prosecution Unit submitted the case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for re-entry of a felon. Following his incarceration in federal prison for 57 months, Castro-Diaz will be formally removed from the country.

All illegal immigrants apprehended by the Border Patrol undergo criminal history checks using IAFIS. This vital tool accesses criminal records throughout the United States, thereby assisting agents in quickly identifying violent criminals and wanted persons.

In January 2011, the Tucson Sector Border Patrol implemented the Consequence Delivery System (CDS) as an integral component of its enforcement strategy. Under CDS, Castro-Díaz is classified as recidivist with a criminal record. Castro-Díaz is now banned for life from all legalization processes without a waiver from the U.S. Attorney General. CDS centers on delivering a targeted consequence to illegal immigrants and simultaneously seeks to disrupt the smuggling cycle and reduce recidivism rates by ensuring consequences are upheld to the full extent of the law.

Since launching the Southwest Border Initiative in March 2009, the Department of Homeland Security has made significant investments toward establishing a secure and safe border environment to improve the quality of life throughout Arizona’s communities.

Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Report suspicious activity by calling the Border Patrol toll free (877) 872-7435. All calls will be answered and remain anonymous.

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.