Border Patrol Arrest Two Sureños Gang Members

CALEXICO, Calif. – Border Patrol agents assigned to El Centro Sector arrested two gang members Saturday night, 20 miles east of the Calexico Port of Entry, for illegally entering the United States.

At around 10:16 p.m., Border Patrol agents patrolling east of the Calexico Port of Entry encountered two men making an illegal entry into the United States. During questioning, the men admitted to being citizens of Mexico and did not possess the proper documents that would allow them to remain in the United States legally and agents arrested the men who were then transported to the El Centro Station for processing.

Agents conducted record checks of the individuals and identified them as citizens of Mexico.  Record checks also revealed that both individuals had previously been charged for participation in a criminal street gang.  These charges were out of Santa Ana and Santa Barbara.

Jose Jesus Ayala-Oliveros and Luis Omar Garcia-Mujica have ties to the notorious Sureños gang which has a stronghold in southern California. Sureños are a murderous gang that is heavily into drug trafficking, kidnapping, human trafficking and assault. The gang is closely tied to the Mexican Mafia.

“The arrest of these two gang members starkly illustrates the importance of border security efforts,” said Chief Patrol agent Gloria I. Chavez. “Gang members often travel with and seek entry into our country illegally with larger groups of migrants,” referencing the Migrant Mob that attempted to rush the U.S. border last week.

Additionally, Ayala and Garcia both had prior orders of removal making their re-entry into the United States a felony.

Both individuals will be held pending criminal prosecution.