CBP Officer Arrested

LAREDO, Texas Customs and Border Protection Officer, Sergio Garza, 32, was arrested Jan. 4, 2008, for his suspected role in aiding and abetting an undocumented alien entering the United States, U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. Garza appeared in federal court before Magistrate Judge Diana Saldaña Jan. 7, 2008. Saldaña set a $100,000 bond and a preliminary hearing date for Jan. 17, 2008. According to the complaint, on Jan. 4, 2008, Garza, then on-duty with Department of Homeland Security (DHS)-Customs and Border Protection (CBP), was working his assigned lane at the primary inspection area at the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge, Port-of-Entry No. 1 in Laredo, Texas. At approximately 7:30 p.m., a 25-year-old Mexican national without permission to enter the United States, entered Garzas lane and was allowed by Garza to enter the U.S. without any valid immigration authorization. At secondary inspection, the Mexican national admitted to other CBP agents he had no permission to enter, travel through or remain in the U.S. According to the Mexican national, he paid $600 to smugglers to be smuggled into the U.S. and was instructed to cross into the U.S. through Garzas inspection lane. Once he arrived at Garzas lane, the Mexican national told Garza he lacked any entry documents into the U.S.. Nevertheless, Garza allegedly allowed him to enter the country. * This case was investigated by DHS-Office of Inspector General and the Laredo office of the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diana Song. A criminal complaint is an accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.