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CBP Officers in El Paso Capture Murder Suspect

Release Date
Wed, 07/20/2011

El Paso, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Ysleta international crossing in El Paso have arrested a man wanted with a 2009 killing in Socorro, Texas. The apprehension was made Monday morning after CBP officers recognized the man as a target of local law enforcement.

The arrest was made after 30-year-old Joe Ivan Alarcon arrived from Mexico as a pedestrian and only provided a name to CBP officers. Alarcon did not have a required Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative compliant entry document in his possession so CBP officers moved him to a secondary search area where a CBP officer recognized him as an El Paso County Sheriff's office wanted suspect. CBP officers then scanned the man's fingerprints which yielded a positive National Crime Information Center match for a 2009 killing in Socorro. CBP officers contacted the El Paso County Sheriff's office who took custody of the subject.

"This arrest was made because of the attention to detail demonstrated by the CBP officer who recognized the subject as well as the fingerprint scan which confirmed his identity," said El Paso Port Director Hector Mancha.

Joe Ivan Alarcon had been featured as an El Paso County Sheriff's Manhunt Monday suspect as well as in a news release announcing his arrest featuring his mugshot. (Manhunt Monday) (Manhunt Monday News Release)

While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all categories.

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