Edinburgh – U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Rio Grande Valley Sector arrested 27 convicted sex offenders, who were illegally present in the United States, and 15 members of notorious street gangs throughout the month of February. Additionally, a man with a prior conviction for murder and a man convicted for voluntary manslaughter were apprehended.
The majority of the sex offenders have convictions for sexual assault crimes involving children, some of which include: sexual assault of a child; second degree felony child sexual contact; lewd or lascivious acts with a child; aggravated sexual assault of a child; and third degree felony sexual exploit of a minor.
Furthermore, agents arrested 11 members of the Mara Salvatrucha gang, or MS-13, a notorious transnational criminal gang that started in Los Angeles, as well as four members of the 18th Street gang.
“Border Patrol agents protect this nation from all threats,” Acting Chief Patrol Agent Raul Ortiz said. “Those threats are not always posed by terrorists or drug smugglers; sometimes they take the form of sex offenders and gang members. Agents are ensuring the safety of our children and the security of our communities by keeping these dangerous criminals off our streets.”
