Ocotillo, California - Friday, U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the El Centro station apprehended a gang member attempting to make an illegal entry into the United States.

While performing line watch duties Border Patrol agents observed a man later identified as Hugo Guevarra, a 35-year-old Salvadoran national, as he entered the United States illegally from Mexico at approximately 11 a.m.  Agents arrested the man without incident 22 miles west of the downtown Calexico Port of Entry.

The man was transported to the El Centro Border Patrol station, where agents discovered that Guevarra had numerous gang affiliated tattoos.  Guevarra openly admitted that he was a member of the notorious Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) criminal street gang out of El Salvador.

Guevarra is in Border Patrol custody and will be further processed for his illegal entry into the United States.

Click here for the total illegal alien apprehensions by fiscal year for the U.S. Border Patrol.

The El Centro Sector’s Community Awareness Campaign is a simple and effective program to raise public awareness on the indicators of crime and other threats.  We encourage public and private sector employees to remain vigilant and play a key role in keeping our country safe.  Please report any suspicious activity to the Border Community Threat Hotline at 1-800-901-2003.