U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents recently arrested Manuel Ismael Pérez, a registered sex offender, during an operation in the Florida Keys. He entered southern Florida illegally from Cuba several decades ago.
Pérez -who was arrested while driving a blue Mitsubishi- was seen holding a cup of coffee before being transferred in a CBP truck to the Border Patrol station in Marathon.
During his detention, the Cuban stated in remarks to a journalist from Local 10 who was present at the operation: "I know my criminal record."
His record includes sexual offenses against a minor, aggravated assault, and drug trafficking.
Next, he hinted at being very rooted by stating: "I have been here for 70 years. I have three children. I have eight grandchildren."
Nick Brady, a U.S. Border Patrol agent, emphasized in statements to the mentioned media outlet the danger posed by the detainee: "He is definitely someone we want to remove from the community."
Later, Pérez was processed at the Border Patrol station in Marathon before being taken into custody by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
A high-risk job at the border
In recent weeks, Border Patrol agents in the Florida Keys have arrested nearly a dozen people in the Keys, many of whom have serious criminal backgrounds.
Among those detained with deportation orders in the U.S. is another Cuban, Osiel Rodríguez-González, an undocumented Cuban citizen in the U.S., found guilty of beating and suffocating a dog, and with a history of domestic violence and cocaine trafficking.
In another case, agents from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) stopped a woman for a traffic violation and discovered she was wanted by federal authorities.
The detainee had a final deportation order issued by a judge after missing a court hearing a decade ago. The Border Patrol arrested her and transported her to the station in Marathon.
Coordination between agencies to enforce the law
Border Patrol agents emphasize that their main focus is on apprehending individuals with violent backgrounds and assure that collaboration with the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), ICE, and the Monroe County Sheriff's Office is essential to ensuring community safety.
Traffic stops and joint operations have resulted in the identification and capture of dangerous individuals who could otherwise evade justice.
Filed under:
