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    In an effort to keep CBP.gov current, the archive contains content from a previous administration or is otherwise outdated.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. Border Patrol Captures Another Dangerous Gang Member

Border Patrol Captures Another Dangerous Gang Member

Release Date
Fri, 12/06/2019

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. – On Thanksgiving Day, U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to Santa Teresa Station arrested an El Salvadoran national attempting to illegally enter the United States. Research during intake and processing revealed that forty-year-old Elmer Joel Mendez-Nufio was an MS-13 gang member.

Mendez was previously charged with assault in 2007 and DWI in 2017 and was deported. He is currently being held at Santa Teresa station for processing under U.S. immigration laws.

The vigilance of U.S. Border Patrol Agents prevents criminals like Mendez from bringing violence and chaos to American communities from Maine to California.

Please visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to Customs and Border Protection. Follow us on Twitter at @CBPWestTexas

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 official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021