Border Patrol agents assigned to the El Centro Sector in California arrested a previously deported MS-13 member who claimed he traveled through Mexico with a migrant caravan. The agents made the arrest after he illegally crossed the border from Mexico into California.

El Centro Station agents patrolling east of the Calexico Port of Entry came upon a suspected illegal immigrant who just crossed the border from Mexico. During an interview, the agents learned the man is a Honduran national who claimed membership in the hyperviolent MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha 13) gang, according to El Centro Sector Border Patrol officials.

The Honduran national told agents he traveled through Mexico as part of a large group of caravan migrants coming from Central America with the intention of filing for asylum in the U.S., officials stated.

The agents transported the gang member to the El Centro Station for further investigation and a biometric background check. The agents identified the man as 29-year-old Jose Villalobos-Jobel, a citizen of Honduras. The agents were also able to confirm the man’s claim of being a member of MS-13 and his intent on illegally entering the U.S.

“The subject was alone when arrested by El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents,” A CBP spokesman said in response to an inquiry from Breitbart News. “In his post-arrest interview, he indicated that he traveled to the U.S. Mexican border with the Central American migrant caravan. Record checks revealed that in 2006 an immigration judge in Las Vegas, NV issued a deportation order and the subject was physically removed via escort flight to Honduras.”

“CBP is not aware of any criminal history for the subject,” the spokesman continued. “El Centro Sector is unaware of any other gang members arrested in the area as part of this latest migrant caravan.”

Border Patrol officials detained the MS-13 gang member. He will be processed according to El Centro Sector Border Patrol guidelines and is expected to be deported to Honduras.

Breitbart News reported extensively on the arrests of MS-13 gang members who illegally cross the U.S.-Mexico Border.

During an interview earlier this year with Breitbart Border/Cartel Chronicles Editor-in-Chief Brandon Darby, Rio Grande Valley Sector Chief Patrol Agent Manuel Padilla said that the apprehension of MS-13 gang members increased nearly 250 percent during the first 10 months of FY2018.

“The good news for the Valley is that they do not remain here,” Chief Padilla explained. “The bad news for the United States is that they go to Houston and Maryland, and other parts of the country to commit their atrocious criminal acts.”

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with a statement from CBP officials in response to an inquiry from Breitbart News.

Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Border/Cartel Chronicles. He is a founding member of the Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX and Facebook.