Brownsville CBP officers apprehend fugitive wanted for failure to appear in a case of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Brownsville Port of Entry detained a fugitive at the Gateway International Bridge who had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear stemming from an original felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

“This apprehension of a wanted person by our CBP officers is a testament to their commitment to keep our communities safe,” said Port Director Tater Ortiz, Brownsville Port of Entry. 

On Friday, April 25, CBP officers at the Gateway International Bridge referred pedestrian Yasser Ismail Abu Awwad Martínez, 23, a Mexican citizen, for secondary inspection. During the secondary examination, CBP officers–utilizing biometric verification and federal law enforcement databases–verified his identity and confirmed he was the subject of an outstanding felony warrant for failure to appear issued by the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office in Olmito, Texas. Further records queries indicated Abu Awwad Martínez was arrested on Dec. 31, 2023, by the San Benito Police Department and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

CBP officers turned Abu Awwad Martínez over to the custody of Cameron County Sheriff’s Office.

The National Crime Information Center is a centralized automated database designed to share information among law enforcement agencies including outstanding warrants for a wide range of offenses. Based on information from NCIC, CBP officers have made previous arrests of individuals wanted for homicide, escape, money laundering, robbery, narcotics distribution, sexual child abuse, fraud, larceny, and military desertion. Criminal charges are merely allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Follow the Director of CBP’s Laredo Field Office at @DFOLaredo and also U.S. Customs and Border Protection at @CBPSouthTexas 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.