PRESIDIO, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol Agents arrested a group of 12 individuals early Sunday afternoon near Presidio, Texas. During processing, the agents discovered one of the individuals, Jose Jose Baltazar, a citizen of Guatemala, had previously been convicted of rape in Indiana.

Dozen Illegal Aliens Captured

“The apprehensions made by our agents in the desert of West Texas have a direct impact on the safety of the communities in which we live and work.” Big Bend Sector Chief Patrol Agent Matthew Hudak said. “They also have a direct impact on the communities in the interior of the United States, this individual previously pleaded guilty to rape and he will not be going back to that community.”

On Saturday, November 30, at approximately 9:00 p.m. agents assigned to the Presidio Station discovered footprints of several individuals near the Rio Grande River. The footprints appeared to have been left by a group of individuals that had illegally entered the United States and continued north.

On Sunday, at approximately 1:45 p.m., Presidio Agents with the assistance of the CBP Alpine Air Unit using helicopter AS350 encountered 12 individuals hiding in caves. The individuals were dressed in camouflage and had carpet on the soles of their shoes. The carpet attached to the shoes is used to help hide footprints while traveling through the desert.

Agents determined the individuals were citizens and nationals of Guatemala and Mexico illegally present in the United States. They were processed according to the applicable immigration laws.

During processing, records checks revealed Jose Jose Baltazar was arrested in 2015 by the Seymour Police Department in Indiana. Baltazar was convicted of rape, a class three felony, in Jackson County Indiana and he was sentenced to 5 years in prison. He was then removed on January 23, 2019, to Guatemala.

Baltazar’s previous Order of Removal will be reinstated and removed to Guatemala at the conclusion of his immigration court hearing and sentencing.

Big Bend Sector Border Patrol agents patrol 517 miles of the Southwest border that extends from Sierra Blanca, Texas to Sanderson, Texas. The Presidio Station area consists of the southern half of Presidio County, the third largest county in the state of Texas. The station is responsible for 113.8 border miles between the U.S. and Mexico and 1,100 square miles of area of responsibility.

The U.S. Border Patrol is made up of over 19,000 brave men and women who courageously secure our nation’s borders. El Paso CBP AMO Air Branch has the largest AOR in the Southwest Region, All of New Mexico, all of Oklahoma and West Texas, including all of Big Bend Sector. Help us secure our homeland, find out more at cbp.gov/careers.