It was a notable week for Border Patrol agents in San Diego County, who arrested two men wanted in Mexico in separate operations, authorities said. The first arrest came on April 29 in El Cajon, the second last Tuesday in San Diego. One suspect is accused in Mexico of kidnapping and extortion, while the other is wanted for homicide. Both men are non-U.S. citizens, and each case involves coordination with Mexican federal prosecutors.
El Cajon arrest: former Mexican officer wanted for kidnapping
According to the San Diego Sector, the April 29 operation in El Cajon led to the arrest of a man living in the United States illegally who is wanted in Mexico on kidnapping and extortion charges. Border Patrol described the suspect as a former Mexican law enforcement officer. Agents processed him for a pending immigration hearing and coordinated his transfer to Mexico’s Fiscalía General de la República, 10News reported.
San Diego arrest flagged by Interpol
In a separate May 5 operation in San Diego, agents arrested a non-U.S. citizen whose visa had been revoked and who was wanted in Mexico for homicide. Authorities said the man was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice. Agents took him into custody at his residence without incident and turned him over to Mexico’s Fiscalía General de la República at a port of entry, according to El Imparcial. Officials have not released the names of either suspect.
What an Interpol Red Notice means
An Interpol Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender or similar legal action. It is not an international arrest warrant, according to INTERPOL. Each member country applies its own laws when deciding whether to act on a Red Notice, and many notices are restricted to law-enforcement use only.
San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Justin De La Torre praised the twin operations, saying they “send a clear and unequivocal message” that the border is not a sanctuary for those fleeing justice. He credited international partnerships and the “exceptional work” of agents for the arrests, the statement said to 10News. People with tips or concerns can report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol San Diego Sector at 619-498-9900, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Next steps and legal process
The agency’s statement said the first suspect was processed for a pending immigration hearing and potential return to Mexico, while the second was handed directly to Mexican prosecutors at a port of entry. Mexico’s Fiscalía General de la República will decide whether to prosecute the homicide case or pursue extradition. Officials have not released court dates or identities, according to local reporting. The arrests highlight routine cross-border coordination between U.S. and Mexican authorities in cases involving serious criminal allegations.
