Border Patrol agents in the San Diego Sector have made several apprehensions involving sexual predators, as per social media posts by Chief Patrol Agent Patricia D. McGurk-Daniel. This information follows the recent sentencing of a Mexican national to over five years in prison for sexually assaulting a minor.
"Sex offender arrested! Last week, agents arrested a previously deported Mexican man who was convicted of molesting a child. We will never stop protecting our community," said D. McGurk-Daniel, according to X.
On February 20, McGurk-Daniel announced that agents had arrested a convicted sex offender. "Sunday morning agents arrested a 39-year-old Mexican man illegally entering the country. He had a prior conviction for aggravated sexual battery. Border Security is National Security," she wrote on social media.
Earlier that day, McGurk-Daniel reported another incident where an agent was assaulted by a migrant who was subsequently arrested. "Over the weekend, a 34-year-old Colombian man attacked an agent after he illegally entered the U.S. Agents promptly arrested the man & who is now facing criminal charges," she said.
The recent arrests of migrants with sexual assault records follow a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office Southern District of California stating that a Mexican citizen was sentenced to prison for sexually abusing a 17-year-old unaccompanied minor. The man and his brother allegedly guided the victim from Tijuana, Mexico into the United States in June 2022.
According to this news release, Cecilio Yonatan Jimenez-Bautista agreed to a plea agreement where he admitted to smuggling at least 25 illegal aliens from Mexico into America for payments ranging between $5,000 and $9,500 per migrant. Over three days, Jimenez-Bautista repeatedly isolated the victim from the group and sexually abused her, according to the indictment. He reportedly used her fear of him to coerce her into having sex with him, causing her serious bodily injury. Both brothers are facing charges related to their role as guides for an alien smuggling organization from June 2022 to February 2023.
McGurk-Daniel reiterated the commitment of her agency to bring such offenders to justice. "We continue to work with our local, state and federal partners to deliver consequences to those nefarious characters who wish to inflict harm in our communities," she said. "We have zero tolerance for these types of actions, and we will do everything in our power to bring those responsible to justice."
