Mexican pastor wanted for child sex abuse collared by border agents after escaping to California

A former pastor from Mexico accused of sex crimes against a minor was among busted by US Border Patrol agents after fleeing to Southern California.

Salvador Suazo-Garcia, who was wanted in his native Mexico for lewd and lascivious acts involving a child, was collared by agents in Lemon Grove on March 6, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

He originally entered the US legally in May 2021 during the Biden administration, but his visa was later revoked over the allegations, DHS said.

Agents from the San Diego Sector of the US Border Patrol made the arrest after an investigation and surveillance of Suazo-Garcia.

Authorities tracked him down through cross-border intelligence sharing, and he was picked up while driving a truck bearing the logo of an electrical company, Mexican media reported.

He was taken into custody without incident and later handed over to Mexico’s federal Attorney General’s Office.

No further information regarding his alleged sex crimes in Mexico was provided.

In a separate case, agents in Anaheim on Feb. 26 nabbed Silvia Del Rosario Torres-Castro, a Mexican national wanted for homicide.

Authorities tracked her movements before taking her into custody without incident. She was later turned over to Mexican officials. The details surrounding the alleged murder in Mexico were also not provided.

Torres-Castro entered the US illegally in 2023 through the Imperial Beach area, DHS said.

Officials said both fugitives had been on the run in the US and were finally tracked down through targeted surveillance by Border Patrol agents.

DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said the arrests highlight how some migrants labeled “non-criminal” in the US can still be wanted for serious crimes abroad.

“Now, thanks to our law enforcement, these two criminal illegals are back in Mexico to face justice for their crimes,” Bis said.

“These dangerous criminal illegal aliens were allowed to roam American streets and make our communities less safe,” she added.

Nearly 70% of illegal immigrants arrested by ICE nationwide have criminal convictions or pending charges in the US, according to DHS.

“This statistic doesn’t even account for those wanted for violent crimes in their home country or another country, human rights abusers, gang members, and terrorists,” Bis said.

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