Port Huron, MI. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Blue Water Bridge, Port Huron, announced the arrest of a Cuban citizen on charges of false statements and misuse of a passport.

On June 24, CBP officers encountered a 51-year-old male subject as he applied for admission into the United States at the Blue Water Bridge. The individual presented a genuine U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident card as proof of status and identity and advised the primary officer that he was traveling to his residence in Miami, Florida. The CBP officer examined the LPR card and noted inconsistencies between the individual and the biographical information contained on the card. The individual was referred for a secondary inspection to verify his identity and immigration status.

During the secondary inspection, CBP fingerprinted the subject and found that he was not the individual who owned the LPR card. The inspection revealed that the individual was Niarco Gonzalez, a 51-year-old citizen of Cuba and that the LPR card in his possession belonged to someone else.

“This case clearly demonstrates the training and diligence of our officers in uncovering the use of legitimate documents to gain illegal entry into this country,” said David Dusellier, CBP Port Director, Port Huron port of entry.

Gonzalez is currently in custody pending prosecution by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. Gonzales is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.