U.S. Customs and Border Protection

DEL RIO (News Release) – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to Del Rio Sector arrested a convicted sex offender shortly after illegally entering the United States.

On May 16, at 5:15 a.m., Uvalde agents encountered a single subject walking the railroad toward San Antonio. Agents determined he was illegally present in the United States and transported him to the Eagle Pass Soft Side Processing facility. Record checks revealed the man, a Mexican national, Jose Vega-Santos, was previously convicted for aggravated indecent liberties of a child in Kansas City, Missouri in 2009 and deported in 2017.

As a convicted felon with a prior removal, he faces a charge of 8 USC § 1326 – Re-entry after Deportation, which carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

“We arrest many criminals attempting to enter the United States undetected,” said Del Rio Sector Chief Patrol Agent Jason D. Owens. “Our primary mission of Border security is vital to the protection of our nation and its people. I am proud of the men and women of the Del Rio Sector for helping keep criminals like this off our streets.”

During fiscal year 2022, Oct. 1, 2021, through April 30, Del Rio Sector agents have encountered more than 1,269 criminal migrants.

All subjects are processed in accordance with U.S. Customs and Border Protection policies.