Justin De La Torre, Border Patrol Chief of Arizona, announced that agents coordinated with federal partners to arrest and process a previously removed individual with a criminal record. This statement was made on the social media platform X.
“Yuma Sector agents, working with ICE and ATF in Philadelphia, arrested an illegal alien after he attempted to run from them,” said De La Torre. “The subject, who has a prior removal to El Salvador and a conviction for DUI, will be processed for removal. Border Security is National Security.”
According to The Arizona Republic, multi-agency operations involving Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have expanded in Arizona and Philadelphia. These efforts aim to combat rising cross-border crime, gun trafficking, and the apprehension of previously deported individuals. The joint operations include coordinated raids, intelligence sharing, and enforcement actions targeting criminal organizations operating between the border and the East Coast.
Data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) indicates that Yuma Sector agents arrested more than 5,000 individuals in 2023 who had previously been deported from the United States. This ongoing challenge reflects persistent attempts by repeat border crossers to re-enter the country despite prior removals.
Statistics from ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations show that over 3,800 removals in Arizona during fiscal year 2023 involved individuals with prior criminal convictions. Offenses ranged from assault and drug charges to weapons violations, highlighting the focus on removing those with significant criminal histories.
De La Torre is detailed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection as the Chief Patrol Agent for the Yuma Sector, leading all Border Patrol activities in southwestern Arizona. He has held various leadership posts in operations management and interagency coordination, now focusing on securing the border and enhancing public safety.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security tasked with safeguarding the nation’s borders and preventing illegal entry. Since its establishment in 1924, CBP has operated across 328 ports of entry, protecting 7,000 miles of land borders and 95,000 miles of maritime borders.
