Border Patrol Agents Arrest Four-Times Deported Convicted Sex Offender

Del Rio – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Eagle Pass Station apprehended a convicted sex offender, with an extensive criminal history, on July 8.

“Our agents are committed to keeping our communities safe and every time we apprehend a convicted felon we accomplish that goal,” said Del Rio Sector Chief Patrol Agent Rodolfo Karisch.Agents of the bike patrol encountered Jose Maldonado-Zelaya, 28, an undocumented immigrant from Honduras, near downtown Eagle Pass around 6 a.m. During processing, agents discovered that Maldonado-Zelaya had been previously deported from the United States, and was a convicted sex offender. Criminal records checks revealed Maldonado-Zelaya was convicted in 2003 for kidnapping and false imprisonment, in Hennepin County, Minnesota, and sentenced to 21 months in prison. Records indicate Maldonado-Zelaya has been deported four times, most recently in April.

Maldonado-Zelaya will be charged with illegal re-entry after deportation – 8 U.S. Code § 1326 – and his prior order of removal will be reinstated.

The Del Rio Border Patrol Sector is part of the South Texas Corridor, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations. To report suspicious activity call the Del Rio Sector’s toll free number at 1-866-511-8727.