U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the San Ysidro Pedestrian West Crossing yesterday caught a fugitive wanted for homicide and probation violation as he attempted to enter the U.S. using another person’s California identification card.
On May 5, at about 4:30 p.m., a 24-year-old male U.S. citizen, Nicholas Castro, applied for entry on foot through the San Ysidro Pedestrian West Crossing.
Castro presented a California Identification card to a CBP officer. Through visual facial comparison of Castro and the photograph on the identification card, the CBP officer detected inconsistencies and referred Castro for a more in-depth inspection.
A CBP officer conducted a query to get biometric information via the “Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System” (IAFIS).
The information revealed that he was the subject of two outstanding felony warrants, one issued by the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office for homicide and one with the Yolo County Probation Department for a probation violation, both stipulating no bail.
“CBP officers face thousands of travelers daily and some people attempt to utilize the heavy traffic volume to hide amongst the crowd,” said Pete Flores, director of field operations for CBP in San Diego.
“CBP is aware of some of the various techniques utilized by individuals attempting to fraudulently enter and work diligently in halting such activities.”
After the warrants were confirmed, CBP officers transported and booked Castro into the San Diego County Jail.
Criminal charges are merely allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry.
CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
