On Wednesday, agents from the Casa Grande Border Patrol Station arrested a young woman from Guatemala who told agents that she had been repeatedly raped by a smuggler with whom she was arrested. The suspect is a male national from Mexico who has been arrested multiple times by the U.S. Border Patrol. The US Border Patrol notified the Tohono O’odham Police Department, who is the lead investigative agency regarding the rape allegations.
Federal immigration charges are also currently pending against the suspect.
Since October, Tucson Sector Border Patrol, has arrested twenty previously-convicted sex offenders, all of whom were attempting to reenter the United States illegally. Of those taken into custody, one subject was convicted of rape, another was convicted of juvenile sexual battery and another was convicted of indecency with a child – sexual contact. Tucson Sector Border Patrol continues to work with a multitude of federal, state, tribal and local authorities to ensure a secure, safe and protected border environment.
Criminals attempting to enter into the United States illegally use the same smuggling organizations that regularly exploit migrants crossing through the desert. Because these violent criminal advise those that they violate that they or their family members will be killed or harmed if they tell anyone what happened to them, it is suspected that many crimes go unreported. The United States Border Patrol emphasizes the safety of all people who live in border communities to include those who cross into the United States Illegally.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials welcome assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free. Contacting the Border Patrol to report illicit activity could result in saving someone’s life.