Hidalgo, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and U.S. Border Patrol agents working an enforcement operation at the outbound lanes of the Hidalgo port of entry apprehended a southbound traveler wanted by the state of Texas on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
On June 15, CBP officers and Border Patrol agents working enforcement operations at the Hidalgo outbound lanes came in contact with a taxicab passenger who was headed south into Mexico. At contact, CBP officers recognized the traveler as a possible wanted fugitive and referred the traveler to secondary for further inspection.
In secondary inspection, the male traveler identified himself as Epigmenio Hernandez, a 38-year-old Mexican citizen from Mission, Texas. A check of a CBP database identified Hernandez as the subject of an outstanding criminal arrest warrant.
The warrant identified Hernandez as a fugitive wanted by the Hidalgo County sheriff's office on a state of Texas charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. After his arrest, Hernandez was transferred to the custody of the Hidalgo County sheriff's office.
"Our frontline officers working outbound operations continue to screen vehicles, merchandise and people before they exit the U.S. to enter Mexico," said Hector A. Mancha, CBP port director for Hidalgo-Pharr. "At contact, our officers recognized this traveler as a wanted fugitive and took immediate control of the traveler and arrested him."