Murder Suspect Arrested at Laredo Border Crossing

CBP officers used biometric verification to identify wanted man at Juarez-Lincoln Bridge

Mar. 13, 2026 at 5:24pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A 30-year-old U.S. citizen wanted by the Chicago Police Department on a first-degree murder warrant was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge in Laredo, Texas, on February 27th. The suspect, Emilio Vega Aguado, was detained after officers used biometric verification and federal law enforcement databases to identify him during a secondary inspection of a passenger bus entering the United States.

Why it matters

This arrest highlights the effectiveness of biometric identification technology used by CBP to apprehend wanted criminals attempting to cross the border. It also demonstrates the ongoing coordination between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to track down and arrest suspects wanted for serious crimes.

The details

During a secondary inspection of a passenger bus at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge, CBP officers used biometric verification and federal law enforcement databases to determine that one of the passengers, Emilio Vega Aguado, was wanted by the Chicago Police Department on a first-degree murder warrant. Vega Aguado, a 30-year-old U.S. citizen, was then detained by the officers and transported to Webb County Jail to await criminal proceedings.

  • On February 27, 2026, CBP officers arrested Emilio Vega Aguado at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge in Laredo, Texas.
  • Vega Aguado was released from Webb County Jail on March 12, 2026, to another law enforcement agency.

The players

Emilio Vega Aguado

A 30-year-old U.S. citizen wanted by the Chicago Police Department on a first-degree murder warrant.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

The federal agency responsible for border security and enforcement, which apprehended Vega Aguado at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge in Laredo.

Chicago Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that had issued a first-degree murder warrant for Emilio Vega Aguado.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Vega Aguado will face criminal proceedings in relation to the first-degree murder warrant issued by the Chicago Police Department.

The takeaway

This case demonstrates the ongoing collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to track down and arrest suspects wanted for serious crimes, with CBP's use of biometric verification playing a key role in identifying and apprehending the suspect at the border.