Federal agents working the front lines in South Texas just closed the net on five wanted individuals in less than a week, ending a series of cross-border runs for suspects facing heavy felony charges.
Between March 27 and March 31, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers stationed across the Laredo Field Office’s jurisdiction intercepted a string of travelers who turned out to be fleeing law enforcement for violent and sexual offenses.
The enforcement surge began on March 27 at the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge in Laredo. Officers stopped 31-year-old Victoria Fernandez Lopez, a Mexican citizen, only to discover she was wanted by the Burleson Police Department for indecency with a child by sexual contact. She was immediately processed and booked into the Webb County jail.
Two days later, the arrests turned international. At the Gateway Bridge in Brownsville, officers flagged 26-year-old Jose Arturo Alfaro Acuna. Records showed the Mexican national was the subject of an international warrant for homicide and abuse of office issued by the Government of Mexico.
READ: “I Want To Start Terror”: Dashcam Catches NYC Bomb Plotters Planning To Kill 60
He was handed over to Mexican authorities at the midpoint of the bridge. That same day, at Eagle Pass International Bridge I, 37-year-old U.S. citizen Efren Gonzalez Dominguez was caught attempting to cross while carrying an active felony warrant for sexual assault out of Lea County, New Mexico.
The final two apprehensions occurred on March 31. Epifanio Benitez, a 59-year-old U.S. citizen, was nabbed at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge on a Dallas County warrant for sexual assault of a child. Shortly after, at the Anzalduas International Bridge, 33-year-old Joel Herrera was taken into custody on similar charges out of Hidalgo County.
Reflecting on the rapid succession of arrests, Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis noted the severity of the crimes involved.
“In the span of just five days, CBP officers at ports of entry in the Laredo area apprehended five fugitives with felony charges,” Bis stated. “The charges of those apprehended included homicide, sexual assault, and indecency with a child. We have delivered the most secure border in American history. We will not allow criminals to enter our country and terrorize our communities.”
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
