Eagle Pass Border Patrol Agents Arrest Two Sex Offenders in as Many Days

Del Rio, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents in Eagle Pass apprehended two convicted sex offenders this week.

On Jan. 21, agents assigned to the Eagle Pass Station working linewatch duties, approximately one mile northwest of the Eagle Pass Port of Entry, Bridge I, apprehended Jose Luis Melendez-Renderos, 23, an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador. During processing, agents discovered that Melendez-Renderos had been convicted in Denver for “sex assault/child” and was subsequently deported. Melendez-Renderos was also convicted of burglary in 2007, and trespassing in 2011. On each occasion Melendez-Renderos was sentenced to 90 days incarceration.

On Jan. 22, Eagle Pass South Station agents patrolling southeast of Eagle Pass, apprehended Uriel Valtierra-Mata, 38, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico. During processing, agents discovered that Valtierra-Mata had been convicted in Richmond for “Indecency with a Child Sexual Contact” and was subsequently deported.

Melendez-Renderos and Valtierra-Mata face charges of illegal re-entry – 8 USC 1326 – and their prior orders of removal will be reinstated.

So far during Fiscal Year 2014, which began Oct. 1, 2013, Del Rio Sector agents have apprehended 10 sex offenders. During FY13, Del Rio Sector agents apprehended 16 previously deported sex offenders.

Compared to the same time frame during FY13, Del Rio Sector has seen a 150 percent increase in arrests of criminal aliens who have been previously deported for sexual offenses. The Del Rio Border Patrol Sector is part of the South Texas Campaign, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations.