Skip to main content

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Archived Content
    In an effort to keep CBP.gov current, the archive contains content from a previous administration or is otherwise outdated.
  1. Home
  2. Newsroom
  3. Local Media Release
  4. Aggravated Felon Apprehended in Big Bend

Aggravated Felon Apprehended in Big Bend

Release Date
Wed, 12/27/2017

An aggravated felon with an extensive criminal history who was previously sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges related to aggravated assault on a peace officer was arrested again by Border Patrol Agents in Van Horn for illegally crossing the U.S./Mexico border.

Sixty-year old Eliseo Franco-Ornelas was captured on 12-22-17 after illegally crossing the border with three other subjects approximately 100 miles west of the Presidio Port of Entry. After further investigation, it was discovered through fingerprint analysis that Franco-Ornelas had the criminal past, and previously served a 15-year prison term for “Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer.”

“This is another high-profile arrest that stresses the importance of technology, combined with adequate numbers of agents and infrastructure,” Big Bend Sector Chief Patrol Agent Robert Boatright stated. “Our agents fully understand our role in securing our nation’s homeland,” he added.

Franco-Ornelas was processed as a reinstatement, and was transported to the West Texas Detention Facility and prosecution will be pursued for “Aggravated Felon Re-Entry”.

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.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021