Chihuahua, Mexico Man, 52, Booked on Felony Charge at Columbus Port of Entry

Allegedly... Rafael Zapata, 52, listed with an address in Chihuahua, Mexico, was booked into a New Mexico detention facility on Feb. 28, 2026, under booking number 2600001652. The arrest took place at the Columbus Port of Entry in southern New Mexico. He faces a single felony count categorized on the booking sheet as "all other offenses," with no bond amount listed. The Columbus Port of Entry, located in Luna County along the U.S.-Mexico border, is staffed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and frequently serves as the arrest point for individuals flagged during inspections for outstanding warrants, immigration violations, or suspected contraband. The booking sheet provided no further specifics about the nature of the underlying felony. No court filings detailing the charge were publicly available at the time of publication, and no local news coverage identifying Zapata in connection with the incident was located. Because the booking description is nonspecific, it is not possible to determine from public records alone whether the case is being handled in state or federal court. Zapata has not been convicted of any offense in connection with this booking. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.