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  4. CBP Officers Encounter Counterfeit Visa Immigration Violations at Hidalgo Port of Entry

CBP Officers Encounter Counterfeit Visa Immigration Violations at Hidalgo Port of Entry

Release Date
Wed, 04/11/2018

HIDALGO, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge arrested two persons for violations of immigration law in connection with an alleged attempt to enter the U.S. with counterfeit visas.

“CBP officers training and experience in document examination and interview techniques are key in identifying and apprehend those who use fraudulent or invalid documents in an attempt to enter the U.S.,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.

A CBP officer processes arriving pedestrians at Hidalgo International Bridge
A CBP officer processes arriving pedestrians
at Hidalgo International Bridge.

On Sunday, April 8, CBP officers assigned to the Hidalgo International Bridge encountered a male and female as they arrived via pedestrian lanes at the Hidalgo International POE claiming to be Mexican citizens. They each presented a Mexican passport, U.S. Visa and I-94 travel permit, bearing their name and photo to substantiate their claim. The primary CBP officers referred the travelers for a secondary examination to verify their citizenship claims.

After a secondary examination of the documents presented, CBP officers discovered that the entry documents were counterfeit. Further examination revealed that the male pedestrian 21-year-old was a citizen of Honduras and female 26-year-old pedestrian was a citizen of El Salvador. Both travelers lacked valid documents to lawfully enter the U.S.

CBP officers seized the documents and both travelers were taken into custody for violations of U.S. immigration law.

For more information about CBP, please click on the attached link.

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