Hidalgo, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge recently arrested two men wanted on child sexual assault charges in separate, unrelated incidents.

“Within a 72-hour period, our CBP officers have detected and arrested two men wanted on charges for child sexual assault this week,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/ Pharr /Anzalduas Port of Entry. “CBP Field Operations is always ready to assist our law enforcement partners in locating individuals who are fugitives of the law in order to face the consequences of their alleged actions.”

CBP officers assigned to the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge on Aug. 20 encountered Julio Cesar Perez Jr., a 22-year-old male U.S. citizen from San Juan, Texas as he arrived from Mexico as a pedestrian. A primary inspection revealed that he was a possible match to an outstanding arrest warrant and in secondary, biometric verification through law-enforcement and CBP databases confirmed the active warrant from the Pharr Police Department for aggravated sexual assault of a child, a first-degree felony.

On Aug. 22, Nicolas Salas, a 39-year-old male U.S. citizen from Penitas, Texas arrived at the same border crossing as a passenger in a white Ford F-150 and was referred for further inspection after being identified as a possible match to an arrest warrant. CBP officers confirmed the active arrest warrant from the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office in Waxahachie, Texas, aggravated sexual assault of a child.

CBP OFO arrested both men who were ultimately turned over to the Pharr Police Department and Hidalgo Police Department, respectively. Salas will await extradition proceedings at the Hidalgo County jail.

Criminal charges are merely allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

For more information on the immigration inspection process visit this link on CBP.gov, Immigration Inspection Program.