USBP: Two felons arrested after illegally crossing into Yuma

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Border Patrol agents in Wellton arrested two aggravated felons on two separate occasions in Yuma.

U.S. Border Patrol said the first incident happened Monday. Agents arrested a group of three migrants on the western edge of the Cabeza Prieta Wildlife Refuge.

One of the migrants, Hugo Zazueta-Garcia, is an aggravated felon who was charged and convicted in Maricopa County in 2017 for having a firearm and ammunition.

A judge sentenced him to almost four years in prison.

The next day, agents found a group of ten men 40 miles southeast of Tacna, Ariz.

One of the men identified as Valentin Deltoro-Pena, alias Simon Gomez-Vincent, was convicted in 2020 out of Tennessee for aggravated assault. A judge sentenced him to three years in prison.

Agents said an immigration judge had previously removed both men from the U.S. However, migrants who have criminal histories and prior removals can once again face jail time. They say this is why they continue to cross through remote areas to cross into the country.