Texas Border Business
PROGRESO, Texas – Amid a steady flow of Spring break traffic, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers assigned to Progreso Port of Entry this weekend apprehended two individuals wanted on outstanding felony warrants for a variety of sex-related offenses.
“In less than 48 hours and facing significant flows of Spring break traffic, our frontline CBP officers detained two individuals wanted on outstanding felony warrants for sex-related offenses,” said Port Director Michael Martinez, Progreso Port of Entry. “Apprehensions of individuals wanted on warrants for crimes of a sexual nature are among the most heinous types of offenses we encounter and perfectly illustrate the vital border security aspect of our mission.”
On March 13, CBP officers at Donna International Bridge referred vehicle passenger Raul Ramos Perez, 87, a United States citizen, for secondary inspection. During secondary examination, CBP officers utilizing biometric verification and federal law enforcement databases, verified his identity and discovered that he was the subject of an active felony warrant for sexual abuse of a child, issued by the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office. CBP officers turned Ramos Perez over to Donna police officers for adjudication of the warrant.
On March 14, CBP officers at Progreso International Bridge referred a pedestrian, Vicente Reyes Guzman, 42, a lawful permanent U.S. resident, for secondary inspection. During secondary examination, CBP officers utilizing biometric verification and federal law enforcement databases verified his identity and discovered that he was the subject of an active felony warrant for lewd and lascivious acts with a minor, issued by the Magistrate Court in Burlington, Iowa. CBP officers confirmed the warrant and turned Reyes Guzman over to Hidalgo County sheriff’s deputies for adjudication of the warrant.
The National Crime Information Center is a centralized automated database designed to share information among law enforcement agencies including outstanding warrants for a wide range of offenses. Based on information from NCIC, CBP officers have made previous arrests of individuals wanted for homicide, escape, money laundering, robbery, narcotics distribution, sexual child abuse, fraud, larceny, and military desertion. Criminal charges are merely allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
