Nogales, Arizona - Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of Nogales’ DeConcini crossing arrested a previously deported MS-13 gang member Monday evening.
Officers referred Jose Daniel Calderon-Canada, 29, for further inspection when he applied for entry into the United States claiming to be a U.S. citizen. During a secondary inspection, officers determined he was lying about his citizenship. Subsequent records checks identified Calderon as a Mexican national and an MS-13 gang member with multiple deportations and an extensive criminal history.
Officers arrested Calderon for making a false claim to United States citizenship. He was then referred for federal prosecution.
Federal law allows officers to charge individuals by complaint, a method that allows the filing of charges for criminal activity without inferring guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless and until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
CBP's Office of Field Operations is the primary organization within Homeland Security tasked with an anti-terrorism mission at our nation’s ports. CBP officers screen all people, vehicles, and goods entering the United States while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. Their mission also includes carrying out border-related duties, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.