U.S. Border Patrol agents from the San Diego Sector arrested two men with prior convictions for child sex offenses in separate operations, according to a May 5 statement.
The arrests highlight ongoing efforts by federal authorities to remove individuals convicted of serious crimes from U.S. communities. Both men were found to be illegally present in the United States and are now being processed for removal.
According to the announcement, on April 27, agents working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations apprehended a Mexican national at 8:25 p.m. The individual had been convicted in January for contacting a minor with intent to commit a sex offense and committing lewd acts with a child under 14. He was turned over to ICE ERO following his arrest.
The following day, on April 28 at approximately 6:45 a.m., agents from the San Clemente Border Patrol Station arrested a Guatemalan national in Fullerton, California. This person had previous convictions for assault, battery, and molestation of a child before being transported for processing.
"Keeping our communities safe is our highest priority, and the San Diego Sector will actively go after dangerous criminals, especially those guilty of heinous crimes against children," said San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Justin De La Torre. "These arrests are a direct result of the proactive work our agents do every day to identify and remove these predators from our neighborhoods."
Both individuals remain in custody as they undergo removal proceedings.
