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In a significant operation highlighting the challenges faced at the southern border, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced on Thursday the arrest of three fugitives sought for sex crimes within a 24-hour span. This group includes a man charged with predatory sexual assault against a minor. The apprehensions occurred at various Texas border crossings, underscoring the serious nature of individuals encountered by border agents.
One of the apprehended individuals was Pedro Garcia Martinez, a 44-year-old Mexican national. He was wanted in New York on serious felony charges, including first-degree rape and predatory sexual assault involving a child. According to CBP, Garcia Martinez was detained at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge in Laredo while attempting to cross the border as a passenger on a bus headed south.
The arrest followed a routine secondary inspection conducted by CBP officers on April 30. Utilizing biometric checks and federal law enforcement databases, the officers confirmed Garcia Martinez’s identity and verified the existence of active warrants from Sullivan County, New York. Following his capture, Garcia Martinez was processed for violations of federal immigration law. Furthermore, he was taken to a detention center equipped with detainers to facilitate his extradition to New York once the immigration issues are resolved, CBP officials stated.
This operation is part of a broader effort by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to address and manage the threat posed by fugitives attempting to evade justice by using border crossings. The agency’s quick response and effective use of technology play a crucial role in ensuring these individuals face the charges against them.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested three men wanted for sex-related offenses at Texas ports of entry in a 24-hour period on April 30, 2026, including suspects shown here, authorities said. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
The arrests come as border security remains a central political issue, with federal officials emphasizing efforts to identify and detain individuals accused of serious crimes, including offenses against children, as they attempt to cross or move through ports of entry.
In a separate arrest the same day, officers at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge stopped Allan Josue Cabrera Maradiaga, 49, a Honduran citizen and southbound bus passenger who was wanted on an active felony warrant for sexual assault out of St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, Â according to CBP.
A third suspect, Jesus Hernandez Resendez, 53, a U.S. citizen, was arrested at the Anzalduas International Bridge after arriving from Mexico as a vehicle driver. CBP said he was wanted in Hidalgo County, Texas, on a first-degree felony charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child.
Pedro Garcia Martinez, a Mexican citizen wanted in New York on multiple felony sex crime charges involving a child, was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at a Texas port of entry on April 30, 2026, authorities said. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
“Put simply, you can run, but you can’t hide,” said Donald R. Kusser, director of field operations for CBP’s Laredo Field Office.
“These are among the most heinous offenses we encounter,” Kusser added.
Allan Josue Cabrera Maradiaga, a Honduran citizen, was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at a Texas port of entry on April 30, 2026, on an outstanding sexual assault warrant out of Louisiana, authorities said. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
In a statement, CBP said the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is “fulfilling President Donald J. Trump’s mandate” to secure the border and stop dangerous criminals from entering the country.
CBP officers routinely rely on biometric screening and federal databases, including the National Crime Information Center, to identify individuals wanted for crimes such as homicide, sexual abuse, drug trafficking and robbery, the agency said.
The agency noted that criminal charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.