U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Laredo Port of Entry have detained a man wanted for an alleged sexual offense involving a child. The arrest took place on September 11, when CBP officers at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge referred Alberto David Torres, a 31-year-old U.S. citizen, for secondary inspection.
After conducting biometric verification using law enforcement databases, officers confirmed that Torres had an outstanding felony warrant issued by the Webb County Sheriff’s Office in Laredo, Texas. The warrant was for indecency with a child by sexual contact, which is considered a second-degree felony in Texas and carries potential penalties of up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $10,000. Following his detention, Torres was handed over to the Webb County Sheriff’s Office to await criminal proceedings.
Port Director Alberto Flores commented on the role of CBP officers: “Our CBP officers play a critical role in safeguarding our communities by identifying and apprehending individuals who pose a threat to public safety.”
The National Crime Information Center (NCIC), which assisted in this apprehension through its database system, allows law enforcement agencies to share information about outstanding warrants and other offenses. According to CBP, NCIC data has led to arrests of individuals sought for crimes such as homicide, escape, money laundering, robbery, narcotics distribution, sexual child abuse, fraud, larceny, and military desertion.
CBP emphasized that criminal charges are allegations and that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
CBP describes itself as the largest law enforcement organization in the United States and the world’s first unified border management agency. With more than 65,000 personnel working across land, air, and sea operations, CBP is tasked with protecting lawful travel and trade while enhancing national security through various initiatives.
