SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico –U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Field Operations officers arrested two undocumented migrants last week found inside a container on board a vessel arriving from Rio Haina, Dominican Republic.
Oscar Guillermo Aquino-Perez, 30, a citizen of the Dominican Republic Wednesday before US District court Magistrate Judge Marcos Lopez, facing charges for re-entering after a previous removal for a prior conviction.
An intrusive container inspection by CBP Officers
“Undocumented migrants and criminals think that by illegally entering the island they have a clear path to the continental United States” stated Marcelino Borges, Director of Field Operations for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. “CBP officers remain vigilant to arrest persons trying to elude detection in violation of federal law.”
Mr. Aquino-Perez was found along with another migrant from the Dominican Republic inside a container on board the vessel M/V Stadt Rotenberg that arrived in the Puerto Nuevo pier.
A biometric database revealed that Mr. Aquino-Perez was convicted in federal court in 2012 for fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents.
The other stowaway did not have prior criminal or immigration records and was processed for removal proceedings.
CBP field operations officers presented the case to Assistant US Attorney Seth Erbe who accepted the case for prosecution.
If convicted, Mr. Aquino-Perez could be fined, imprisoned not more than 10 years or both.
All defendants are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.