U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Laredo Port of Entry have detained a man wanted for an alleged sexual offense against a child. The incident took place on August 24, when officers at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge identified Bernardo Vasquez Rodriguez, a 70-year-old Mexican citizen, as a passenger on a commercial bus and referred him for secondary inspection.
Biometric verification through law enforcement databases confirmed that Vasquez Rodriguez had an outstanding felony warrant issued by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office in Houston for indecency with a child by sexual contact. In Texas, this charge is considered a second-degree felony, which carries potential penalties of up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $10,000. After confirmation of his identity and the warrant, Vasquez Rodriguez was transferred to the Webb County Sheriff’s Office pending criminal proceedings.
Port Director Alberto Flores commented on the apprehension: “This apprehension reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities, our children. We will continue working alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure that individuals accused of committing crimes against children are held accountable.”
The National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database played a role in confirming the warrant. NCIC is used by law enforcement agencies nationwide to share information about outstanding warrants and other offenses. According to CBP, previous arrests based on NCIC information have included individuals wanted for serious crimes such as homicide, robbery, narcotics distribution, and military desertion.
CBP noted that criminal charges are allegations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
CBP describes itself as America’s largest law enforcement organization with over 65,000 personnel working across land, air, and sea domains to enforce travel and trade laws while enhancing national security.
