CALEXICO, Calif. – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the El Centro Sector arrested a man convicted of a sexual offense Thursday afternoon, making it the second such arrest in less than one week.



The incident occurred at around 5:05 p.m., when agents assigned to the El Centro Station encountered a man suspected of illegally entering the United States approximately 20 miles west of the Calexico West Downtown Port of Entry. Agents arrested the man and transported him to the El Centro Station for immigration and criminal history screening.



Agents conducted records checks, which revealed that the man identified as Jose Sanchez-Vitela, a 43-year-old Mexican national, had a conviction on April 19, 2018, for two counts of “Sexual Battery” out of Jackson County, Georgia. The man was sentenced to 24 months confinement and 12 months probation for his convictions.



Additionally, Sanchez was previously ordered removed from the United States to Mexico by an immigration judge on October 12, 2018.



Sanchez is being held in federal custody pending further criminal prosecution.



In fiscal year 2020, El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents have arrested and removed 31 individuals either convicted or wanted on sexual offense charges after they entered the United States illegally.