The vigilant nature of U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers came into focus this week at the Laredo Port of Entry, where a man sought for alleged sexual assault of a child was apprehended. Raul Martinez Alba was referred for a secondary inspection. A lawful permanent U.S. resident, Alba, 65, faced two outstanding felony warrants from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. These charges, obtained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, included sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14.
During his secondary examination, CBP officers employed biometric verification against federal law enforcement databases to confirm Martinez Alba's identity along with his warrant status. With the warrants confirmed, the CBP quickly transported Martinez Alba to Webb County jail to address the claims of his alleged past offenses.
Commenting on the significance of such cases, Port Director Albert Flores stated on CBP's official website, "Apprehensions involving persons wanted on felony warrants for alleged sexual assault of a child underscore the seriousness of the border security aspect of our mission." He continued, emphasizing the officers' ability to focus, "and the need and ability of our officers to remain laser-focused as they perform their inspectional duties." This diligent work of the CBP officers is an effort to maintain community safety and ensure justice prevails, working in tandem with other law enforcement agencies.
Apart from highlighting the work of CBP officers at the border, this incident underscores the efficacy of the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). This centralized database is designed to disseminate information among law enforcement agencies, including the existence of outstanding warrants across a spectrum of offenses. According to CBP’s release, the NCIC assists in equipping CBP officers to make informed decisions that have previously led to the arrest of individuals wanted for a range of crimes, from homicide to military desertion. Defendants like Martinez Alba, however, are granted the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by the court of law.
