Illegal Reentry Suspect and Accused Sex Offender Apprehended at Portland Airport Attempting to Flee U.S.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Federal authorities have apprehended a Mexican national unlawfully residing in the United States who attempted to board an international flight at Portland International Airport (PDX) while facing serious sex crime charges in Oregon. Manuel Cruz-Ramirez, 38, was taken into custody on February 3, 2026, after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers discovered he was traveling under a false identity.
Cruz-Ramirez had previously been arrested in Marion County, Oregon, where he was charged in an amended indictment with rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree, and purchasing sex with a minor. Following his initial arrest on state charges, Cruz-Ramirez was released on bail. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials have stated that he was released into the community without an immigration detainer being honored, citing local “sanctuary” policies that limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.
According to court documents, Cruz-Ramirez attempted to pass through a security checkpoint at PDX on February 3 using a Mexican passport bearing an alias. When the document failed to return complete data during screening, TSA officers alerted U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Agents used fingerprint analysis to confirm his true identity, revealing his prior immigration history and the pending felony charges in Marion County.
Records indicate that Cruz-Ramirez was previously deported to Mexico in June 2018 after being placed in expedited removal proceedings. His attempt to leave the country this month has resulted in new federal charges for illegal reentry after deportation. He made his first appearance in federal court on Thursday and has been ordered detained pending further proceedings.
DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement following the arrest, criticizing the local policies that allowed for Cruz-Ramirez’s release. “Oregon’s sanctuary policies allowed this criminal illegal alien to be RELEASED on bail into the community,” the statement read, adding that federal agents were able to intervene only because the defendant attempted to flee through an international airport.
Cruz-Ramirez remains in federal custody. A criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
* medfordalert.com
* dhs.gov
* justice.gov
* rightnoworegon.com
* wfmd.com
* newstral.com
