LUKEVILLE, ARIZ.—A 22-year-old Turkish national and his infant son were transferred to U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody last night in connection with an Amber Alert case from northern California.
CBP officers at the Port of Lukeville were contacted by Mexican Immigration officials who had reportedly taken Mesut Guler, a Legal Permanent Resident from Sunnyvale, Calif., into custody at a checkpoint south of the Sonoran town of Sonoyta. Guler reportedly fled into Mexico with the child, which prompted the Amber Alert to be issued.
After confirming the active arrest warrant, Lukeville Port officials prepared to take custody of the father and son from Mexican authorities. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and Child Protection Services were contacted. At approximately 8 p.m., Guler and his child were turned over to Sheriff’s deputies.
Tucson Field Operations Director Roderick Blanchard praised the cooperation between CBP and Mexican authorities which ensured the child’s safety.
“This high-profile case speaks volumes to the ongoing working relationship which exists between CBP in Arizona and our partners in Mexico,” he said. “Efforts like these show how effective the law enforcement communities in both countries can be when working together.”