Agents Arrest Man Who Escaped Reynosa Prison; 3 Other Felons

Edinburg, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Rio Grande Valley Sector arrested a man who had escaped from prison and three other convicted felons over the weekend.

The escapee was arrested Saturday by agents assigned to the McAllen Station. During processing at the station, agents discovered the man was part of a group of at least 85 people who escaped from a prison in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico, Sept. 10, 2010. The inmates reportedly used ladders to scale the walls and flee into the surrounding area. According to Mexican officials the majority of the inmates had been convicted of, or were on trial for, federal charges, such as weapons possession or drugs. Two guards also disappeared at the time and are suspected of having assisted with the escape.

The escaped prisoner will be turned over to officials from Mexico.

McAllen Station agents arrested another illegal alien Saturday near Granjeno, Texas, who is a convicted sex offender with an outstanding warrant out of Dallas, Texas, for a probation violation. While performing a records check, agents learned that the man, who is a national of El Salvador, had been convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child and sentenced to 10 years probation. The man will be extradited by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department.

Additionally, agents assigned to the Rio Grande City Station arrested an illegal alien who had been convicted for sex with a minor, and agents from the Weslaco Station apprehended an illegal alien who had been convicted for attempted murder. The two men will be processed for return to Mexico.

“Removing violent and criminal aliens from American society is one of our highest immigration enforcement priorities,” Chief Patrol Agent Rosendo Hinojosa said. “By working together with other law enforcement agencies to aggressively target illegal activity and take wanted criminals off our streets, we make our communities and our nation safer.”

To report suspicious activity, call the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector’s toll-free telephone number at (800) 863-9382.

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.