U.S. Attorney's Office and U.S. Border Patrol Charge Illegal Alien in High-Speed Checkpoint Evasion and Smuggling Case Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico Dateline: Albuquerque, New Mexico Date: 7 March 2025 Subjects: American Government , Crime

ALBUQUERQUE – A man illegally present in the United States has been charged in federal court with high-speed flight from an immigration checkpoint and conspiracy to transport illegal aliens.

According to court documents, on the morning of March 2, 2025, Roberto Rodrigo Velazquez-Lopez allegedly drove a sedan with Texas license plates through a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 25 in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, ignoring agents' commands to stop. Instead, the vehicle continued northbound at high speed, reaching approximately 110 miles per hour before yielding near mile marker 40.

Upon arrest, Velazquez-Lopez admitted to being illegally present in the United States and to having two individuals concealed in the trunk of the vehicle. A total of four illegal aliens were found in the vehicle.

In a post-Miranda interview, Velazquez-Lopez stated he was instructed to transport illegal aliens from El Paso, Texas to Albuquerque, New Mexico to pay off a debt. He also admitted to previously transporting illegal aliens on four occasions.

Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar of the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector, made the announcement today.

U.S. Border Patrol investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jackson Dering is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Updated March 7, 2025

Press Release Number: 25-87