(The Center Square) – Within 72 hours, federal agents arrested four wanted child sex offenders at the busiest port of entry in Texas and the country.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Laredo Field Office agents working at the Laredo Port of Entry arrested four men who were wanted on outstanding warrants for child sex offenses. Three arrests were of U.S. citizens.
“Over the Columbus Day holiday weekend our frontline CBP officers at Laredo Field Office ports of entry maintained their vigilance and apprehended four men wanted on outstanding warrants for alleged sex-related charges involving children,” Laredo OFO Director Donald Kusser said. “Sex-related offenses involving children are among the most heinous offenses we encounter. We work diligently to ensure that individuals accused of these kinds of crimes are held accountable and have their day in court.”
The first arrest was made on Oct. 11 by CBP officers working at the Gateway International Bridge in Brownsville. The bridge connects traffic and trade from the southernmost part of the Rio Grande Valley to Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico.
During a vehicle stop, they apprehended a 65-year-old Mexican citizen, Gilberto Fernandez Vega, who was wanted on an outstanding felony warrant issued by Cameron County Sheriff’s Office for indecency with a child by sexual contact. He was transported to the Cameron County jail.
On Oct. 12, CBP officers made two separate arrests at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge, which connects traffic and trade from Laredo to nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Both arrests were of male U.S. citizens with outstanding warrants issued by the Laredo Police Department.
CBP officers arrested Isidro Gutierrez, 57, who was wanted on an outstanding felony warrant for indecency with a child. They also arrested Armando Hernandez, 32, who was wanted on an outstanding felony warrant for indecency with a child by sexual contact. Both men were turned over to Laredo Police Department officers.
On Oct. 13, CBP officers working at the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge, apprehended another U.S. citizen, Luis Manuel Mendez III, 31. He attempted to reenter the U.S. from Mexico after having walked across the bridge, which also connects Laredo to Nuevo Laredo. He was detained for a secondary inspection after concerns were raised during a primary inspection, CBP said.
During the secondary examination, CBP officers used biometric verification and federal law enforcement databases to verify his identity. After doing so, they learned an outstanding felony arrest warrant was issued for him by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office for aggravated sexual assault of a child. CBP officers turned Mendez over to Webb County Sheriff’s deputies; he was transported to the Webb County jail for adjudication of the warrant.
Arrest warrants are accessible nationwide through the National Crime Information Center, which provides a centralized automated database designed for law enforcement to share information, including outstanding warrants for a wide range of offenses. CBP officers have access to NCIC and have historically made numerous arrests after identifying those with criminal histories, including those wanted for “homicide, escape, money laundering, robbery, narcotics distribution, sexual child abuse, fraud, larceny, and military desertion,” CBP says.
The Laredo Port of Entry is the largest and busiest of four OFO regions. It stretches from Laredo to the Rio Grande Valley. The El Paso Port of Entry OFO region covers far west Texas and all of New Mexico; Tucson POE OFO covers all of Arizona; the San Diego POE OFO covers a portion of southern California.
In fiscal 2025, CBP Laredo POE OFO officers apprehended the greatest number of illegal border crossers along the southwest border: 87,468. San Diego Sector POE OFO agents apprehended the next greatest number of 66,082, according to CBP data as of Sept. 4.
The majority apprehended by CBP OFO officers in fiscal 2025 at the southwest border were single adults from countries from all over the world, followed by Mexican nationals.
The Port of Laredo is the top trade port in the country out of more than 450 airports, seaports, and border crossings with $339 billion in total trade last year, The Center Square reported.
