HIDALGO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge arrested Cristo Audifas Perez as he arrived from Mexico in a commercial bus. CBP officers discovered that Perez had an outstanding arrest warrant from Fort Worth, Texas for aggravated assault/robbery.
“Our officers utilize all the technology at our disposal, including consulting law enforcement databases and utilizing inspections experience as we examine arriving passenger traffic,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Port of Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas. “These checks allow CBP to detect persons with outstanding arrest warrants as this case illustrates.”
of entry.
On Thursday, Dec. 10, CBP officers working at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge encountered the 20-year-old man, a citizen of the United States from Fort Worth, at the pedestrian walkway after getting off the bus. A primary computer check revealed that Perez was a possible match to an outstanding arrest warrant. Officers then escorted him to secondary where biometric verification confirmed his identity along with the active arrest warrant from the Fort Worth Police Department. The warrant for the first-degree felony charge was issued for an incident which occurred on Oct. 31, 2020 where he allegedly brandished a weapon and assaulted a man, causing bodily harm.
CBP OFO arrested Perez and ultimately turned him over to the custody of officers from the Hidalgo Police Department who transported him to the Hidalgo County jail to await extradition procedures.
Criminal charges are merely allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Visit CBP’s website for more information on the Immigration Inspection Program.