U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Laredo Port of Entry apprehended a United States citizen on April 12, who was wanted on a felony warrant for alleged molestation of a minor. This arrest took place at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge during an inspection of a commercial bus arriving from Mexico.
Rafael Chica Garcia, a 19-year-old U.S. citizen, was referred to a secondary inspection by a CBP officer. Subsequent biometric verification confirmed Garcia's outstanding felony warrant from the St. Charles County Adult Detention Facility in Missouri. He was then handed over to the Webb County Sheriff’s Office for further criminal proceedings.
“The arrest of this individual represents a critical step in protecting our communities and ensuring that those who seek to harm minors are held accountable,” stated Alberto Flores, Port Director at Laredo Port of Entry. He praised the cooperation between CBP officers and other law enforcement agencies that led to the arrest.
The National Crime Information Center (NCIC), a centralized automated database, plays a crucial role in law enforcement agencies sharing information, including outstanding warrants for various offenses. According to CBP, this database has aided in numerous arrests for crimes such as homicide, escape, money laundering, robbery, narcotics distribution, and sexual child abuse.
Criminal charges pending against an individual remain allegations, and defendants are regarded as innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
For updates, follow the Director of CBP’s Laredo Field Office on X at @DFOLaredo and on Instagram at @dfolaredo. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the nation's foremost law enforcement organization, focusing on border management and national security.
