AUBURN, Maine - U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Rangeley Border Patrol Station apprehended two men near Auburn on Thursday, June 27.
Responding to information provided by a concerned citizen, the agents encountered two Mexican nationals in Auburn. Both of the men were found to be illegally present in the United States and taken to the Rangeley Border Patrol Station for processing.
During subsequent interviews, one subject was found to have entered the United States illegally through Laredo, Texas, in early 2019. The man previously held a valid non-immigrant visa that expired in 2018.
The other man was lawfully admitted to the United States with a valid Border Crosser Card (BCC) in 2012. Border Crossing Cards are primarily issued along the southern border to allow aliens to enter the United States for short periods for purposes such as shopping. Those entering with a BCC are required to remain within 25 miles of the border.
“This case highlights the level of cooperation we receive from the public,” said Jason D. Owens, the Border Patrol Chief in Maine. “We have limited resources and cannot be everywhere at once. Getting calls from the public is essential to helping us make local communities safer.”
After processing, both men were placed into removal proceedings and transferred to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
Under Title 8 of the U.S. Code, it is a federal crime to enter the United States illegally and to misrepresent a material fact while seeking admission to the United States. While most of the people arrested by the United States Border Patrol in Maine are processed administratively, underlying criminal charges are frequently present.
The Border Patrol in Maine relies on the cooperation and assistance of the public. Anyone wishing to make a confidential report of suspicious activity may call (800) 851-8727 to contact the United States Border Patrol in Maine.