YUMA, Ariz. — Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents arrested a Mexican national with an outstanding homicide/first-degree murder felony arrest warrant from Chicago, late Monday.
At approximately 9:30 p.m., Yuma Station agents arrested Alejandro Rodriguez-Valencia near the Morelos Dam along the Colorado River shortly after he made an illegal entry into the United States.
During processing, agents discovered that Rodriguez-Valencia was previously deported from the U.S. in 2006 and his fingerprints and photo matched those of a subject with an active homicide/first-degree murder with a knife warrant in Chicago, Illinois. Yuma Station agents worked with the Chicago Police Department to positively identify Rodriguez-Valencia as the subject of the warrant.
Rodriguez-Valencia has been turned over to the Yuma Police Department for extradition.
Federal law allows agents to charge individuals by complaint, a method that allows for the filing of criminal activity charges without inferring guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless or until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents effectively combat smuggling organizations attempting to illegally transport people and contraband through Southwestern Arizona and California. Citizens can help the Border Patrol and U.S. Customs and Border Protection by calling 1-866-999-8727 toll-free to report suspicious activity. Callers can remain anonymous.