CBP Officers at South Texas Ports of Entry Arrest Wanted Fugitives

Hidalgo, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at South Texas ports of entry between Hidalgo and Roma arrested 11 persons wanted on outstanding federal, state and local arrest warrants during the first ten days of November.

During this time frame, CBP officers working at the Hidalgo/Reynosa International Bridge arrested four U.S. citizens and one Mexican national on outstanding federal, state and local arrest warrants. Marco Antonio Mendez, age 27, a United States citizen from McAllen, was arrested for probation violation-(cocaine/selling) and released to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Brenda Garcia, age 18, a U.S. citizen from Pharr, was arrested on a burglary warrant from San Juan and released to the custody of their police department. Alfredo Serna, age 32, a U.S. citizen from Edinburg, was arrested on possession of marijuana charges from Dallas County. He was released to the custody of the Hidalgo Police Department and subsequently transferred to the Hidalgo County Jail where he awaits extradition. Veronica Carmen Reyes, age 27, a U.S. citizen from McAllen, was arrested on a warrant for property damage/criminal mischief from McAllen and released to the custody of their police department. Erik Antonio Bazan, age 26, a Mexican citizen from Hidalgo, was arrested on a theft warrant from the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office and released to their custody.

CBP officers at the Rio Grande City/Camargo International Bridge arrested Yolda Jeanette Gonzalez, age 22, a U.S. citizen from Zapata, on a failure to appear warrant from Sullivan City and she was released to the custody of their police department. Benito Sanchez de la Fuente, age 66, from Mexico, was arrested on a State Department warrant for “false citizenship." Mr. Sanchez was an undocumented Mexican national who had allegedly assumed a U.S. citizen’s identity and had applied for a U.S. passport. He was released to the custody of agents from the State Department and CBP placed an immigration detainer on him to ensure his return to federal custody to face immigration law proceedings upon final adjudication of the State Department charges.

CBP officers at the Roma/Miguel Aleman International Bridge arrested three U.S. citizens in separate incidents for failure to appear warrants from Roma. Luis Moreno, age 20, Jose Luz Landa, age 36, both from Rio Grande City and Jesus Garcia, age 19, from Roma were released to the custody of the Roma Police Department. Two missing juveniles were also apprehended and they too were released to the custody of the Roma Police Department.

“Our officers are continuously assisting other federal agencies and the state and local authorities in capturing wanted fugitives,” said Laredo Director of Field Operations Gene Garza. “It’s our ability to check everyone attempting to enter our country that allows us to identify these individuals who have outstanding warrants and this important border security work helps keep our communities safe and secure.”

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.