El Centro, California - U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the El Centro Sector Border Patrol arrested a previously deported aggravated felon and a man with a felony conviction for attempted murder over the weekend.

The first incident occurred on Friday at approximately 11:00 p.m., when agents arrested a man after he illegally entered the United States, east of Calexico.

During processing, record checks revealed that the man, Juan Carlos Avalos-Padilla, a 50-year-old Mexican citizen, has an extensive criminal history that includes a conviction for attempted murder.

The felony conviction for Attempted Murder Second Degree occurred in Riverside County, in August 2010.  Avalos was sentenced to seven years in prison for the conviction. 

The second incident occurred at approximately 7:00 p.m., Sunday evening, when agents working the Highway 111 checkpoint stopped a vehicle after it attempted to circumvent the checkpoint to avoid inspection. Through a field interview, agents determined that the vehicle occupants were Mexican citizens without proper documentation allowing them to enter or remain in the United States legally.

Border Patrol agents at the station ran record checks, which revealed that one of the individuals, Ivan Partida-Valdez, a 37-year-old Mexican citizen, is a previously deported aggravated felon. 

Partida-Valdez has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 1994 that includes numerous convictions for aggravated burglary and three separate jail sentences.  Each prison sentence was at least one year long. 

“Preventing these types of criminals from committing more heinous crimes in our community is part of our duties as agents, and we will continue protecting America’s frontline every day,” said El Centro Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez.

Both men will remain in federal custody pending prosecution for violation of criminal law.