Authorities in Las Cruces carried out a successful operation leading to the arrest of a fugitive, Jesus Luis Cuevas-Pacheco, age 47. In a press release by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), officials detailed the events that transpired on Saturday. While serving an arrest warrant for reentry after deportation, Cuevas attempted to elude capture, engaging in a short vehicular pursuit followed by a on-foot chase, before finally barricading himself within a residence in Vado, New Mexico. The situation concluded with ICE agents forcing entry and taking Cuevas into custody.
According to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, despite repeated commands to exit the premises and surrender, Cuevas persistently refused to comply. Authorities were eventually compelled to breach the door and to swiftly apprehend him without further incident. The arrest was significant given Cuevas's history of convictions, including those for sexual assault of a minor, narcotics distribution, and battery.
"The arrest of this criminal alien sends a strong message: HSI will not tolerate those who prey on the vulnerable and jeopardize the safety of our communities. HSI’s mission is clear: to protect the innocent, uphold the law, and remove dangerous individuals from our streets," said HSI El Paso Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens, as noted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Stevens highlighted the importance of their mission and the dedication of agents involved in the operation.
Initial entry of Cuevas into the United States is reported to have occurred before 2003 at an undisclosed location. After being encountered in Dallas and issued an order of removal, he was sent back to Mexico, but his record shows a series of arrests from 1994 to 2022. These include convictions for criminal sexual penetration of a child and narcotics trafficking, the latter resulting in a one-year prison sentence. Cuevas now faces charges for his attempt to illegally reenter the United States after deportation, with the potential to receive heavy penalties, including prison time, followed by removal.
