In a coordinated effort to apprehend individuals charged with serious sex-related crimes against minors, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Progreso Port of Entry in Texas made two separate arrests. Port Director Walter Weaver underscored the diligent work of the CBP in contributing to community safety. "Day after day, CBP officers work diligently to help make our communities safe," Weaver said, as noted in a statement on the CBP's official website. "They remain vigilant and collaborate with other law enforcement agencies to make arrests of this magnitude."
On August 31, while at the Donna International Crossing, CBP officers took Robert Martinez, a 30-year-old U.S. citizen, into custody following a secondary inspection that revealed an outstanding felony warrant from Hidalgo County for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. Similarly, Jorge Luis Estrada, aged 47 and a citizen of Mexico, was detained on September 1 after officers discovered he was wanted on a felony warrant for Sex Offense Against a Child – Fondling. The arrests, a testament to the vigilance of the CBP officers, were facilitated by the use of federal law enforcement databases and biometric tools that confirmed the identities and outstanding warrants of Martinez and Estrada.
Following their apprehension, both Martinez and Estrada were turned over to the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office for further legal proceedings. Their cases now rest in the hands of local authorities, with the Hidalgo County courthouses becoming the setting for the adjudication of the warrants. It is here, removed from the border's oversight, where the weight of the allegations will be tried, and where the presumption of innocence remains a bedrock principle until if proven otherwise.
The National Crime Information Center, known commonly as NCIC, operates as a centralized repository that aids law enforcement agencies in communicating information. Such collaboration is crucial in casting a nationwide net for suspects wanted on a variety of charges, including but not limited to homicide, escape, money laundering, robbery, narcotics distribution, sexual child abuse, larceny, and military desertion. According to the aforementioned CBP statement, the current arrests exemplify the boon of information-sharing between agencies.
