Fugitive Sought on Aggravated Sexual Assault Warrant Nabbed at El Paso Port

EL PASO, TEXAS U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the Paso Del Norte (PDN) crossing in downtown El Paso Tuesday apprehended a man being sought by the El Paso County Sheriffs office on an outstanding aggravated sexual assault warrant. The warrant had been originally issued in September of 1988. The apprehension was made Tuesday morning when a man entered the PDN pedestrian inspection area from Mexico. CBP officers queried the mans name and learned that he was being sought on an outstanding warrant. CBP officers confirmed the warrant information with the El Paso County Sheriffs office warrant section. The subject is identified as 57-year-old Ramon Quinonez-Amante of El Paso. He was turned over to Federal Protective Service officers at the port. CBP officers use computer databases and biometric identification systems everyday to process more than 100,000 people that enter the U.S. from Mexico at the El Paso port of entry everyday, said U.S. Customs and Border Protection El Paso Port Director David Longoria. While these queries may add a few seconds to the overall inspection process, the net result is that numerous dangerous people are removed from the streets of El Paso, making the community a safer place for us all. CBP officers working at the El Paso and outlying ports of entry have nabbed more than 740 wanted people since October 1, 2005, the beginning of the current fiscal year. Last year more than 1,200 wanted people were taken into custody by CBP officers performing thorough anti-terror inspections. CBP officers are working hard to balance strong enforcement with the need to facilitate law abiding people crossing the border who pose no risk, said Longoria. The number of fugitives nabbed during the last two years indicates the need for continued scrutiny at border ports.