Human smuggler caught in Portal

PORTAL, N.D. – Grand Forks Sector Border Patrol Agents arrest convicted human smuggler.

On October 24, 2019, at approximately 8:15 a.m., Portal Station agents apprehended Fernando Oviedo-Ortiz for being illegally present in the United States. Record checks revealed Oviedo-Ortiz, a Mexican National, was previously convicted for Human smuggling in McAllen, Texas in 2008. He was sentenced to 8 months in prison before being removed to Mexico.

On January 6, 2020, in U.S. District Court, Fargo, North Dakota, Oviedo-Ortiz was convicted of one count of 8 USC 1326(a) & (b)(1) and sentenced to 75 days.

All persons apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol undergo criminal history checks using biometrics to ensure illegal aliens with criminal histories are positively identified.