U.S. Border Patrol agents patrolling near Niagara Falls arrested Pablo Ordonez-Melendez, 48, a Honduran national who agents say is in the country illegally and has a criminal history stretching back nearly 25 years.
Agents with the Buffalo Sector, who encountered Ordonez-Melendez during routine patrol duties, reviewed his immigration and criminal records and found a long list of prior arrests, including multiple sexual assault charges involving minors, grand larceny, assault with intent to cause injury, endangerment, bail jumping, possession of stolen property and numerous traffic offenses.
Despite his lack of legal immigration status, Ordonez-Melendez was on probation in New York, a sanctuary state, and is now considered a probation violator, according to Border Patrol.
Buffalo Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent James D’Amato credited his agents for the arrest.
“This arrest is a clear example of our agents’ commitment to public safety. Those who violate our immigration laws and have serious criminal histories will be identified, arrested, and removed from the United States,” D’Amato said.
Ordonez-Melendez was processed at the Niagara Falls Border Patrol station before being handed over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division, where he now awaits deportation proceedings.
The Buffalo Sector covers 490 linear miles of border between ports of entry across New York and Pennsylvania. Since October, agents in the sector have arrested 1,741 people who entered the country illegally, through July.
“We will continue to protect our border and keep dangerous individuals out of our communities,” D’Amato said.
Border Patrol staffing nationwide has grown since President Trump’s inauguration in 2025, with the agency reaching 21,271 agents in late June, according to CBP figures reported by Breitbart Texas. Officials say the higher staffing levels have allowed for more frequent patrols between ports of entry, making it harder to enter, work or travel in the U.S. undetected.
