U.S Border Patrol arrests registered sex offender near Sasabe, Arizona

TUCSON, Ariz. – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Tucson Station apprehended a registered sex offender near Sasabe, Arizona, early Saturday morning.

Surveillance technology alerted agents to a group of suspected illegal aliens walking through the desert near the town around 1:30 a.m. When the agents investigated, they discovered and arrested five individuals, a man from Guatemala as well as three women and a man from Mexico. All five had entered the country illegally.

During processing at the Tucson Coordination Center, records checks revealed the Guatemalan man, Gerardo Suruy-Xiquin, was a registered sex offender. Suruy was convicted in 2023 in the 12th circuit court of Florida for multiple counts of sexual battery by juvenile / victim under 12 years old. The conviction resulted in a 2-year jail sentence.

Suruy is being held at the Tucson Coordination Center. He faces prosecution for illegal reentry into the United States under 8 U.S.C. § 1326. The other subjects will be charged for entry without inspection under 8 U.S.C. § 1325.

U.S. Border Patrol continues to work tirelessly to secure the borders and protect our communities. Suruy’s arrest highlights its ongoing efforts to ensure individuals with a history of violent offenses are identified and held accountable.

Follow the Chief of Tucson Sector on the social media platform X at @USBPChiefTCA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection at @CBPArizona for breaking news, current events, human interest stories and photos.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. The 65,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground, in the air, and on the seas. We facilitate safe, lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity. We enhance the nation's security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration, and trust.