Burmese Man with Felony Warrant Arrested at Peace Bridge Crossing in New York

A Burmese citizen living legally in the United States was taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers earlier this week at the Peace Bridge crossing between Buffalo, New York and Fort Erie, Canada, after a check revealed he was wanted in Texas on felony domestic violence charges.

The arrest occurred on June 18 when 29-year-old Ayatullah Mohamad Kasim attempted to re-enter the United States alone in a personal vehicle. During initial questioning, Kasim told officers he had accidentally entered the bridge without intending to cross into Canada. While conducting routine database checks, CBP officers discovered that Kasim had an active arrest warrant listed in the National Crime Information Center.

After being escorted to a secondary inspection area for further verification, authorities confirmed that the Harris County Sheriff’s Office in Texas had issued a warrant for Kasim’s arrest for violating probation. The underlying charge was a third-degree felony offense involving continuous violence against a family member.

Following confirmation of his identity and the outstanding warrant, Kasim was turned over to the Buffalo Police Department as a fugitive from justice. He is currently being held by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office and awaits extradition to Texas to face legal proceedings.

CBP emphasized that charges against Kasim remain allegations and that all individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. No public safety threat in the Buffalo area was reported in connection with the arrest.

Article by multiple contributors, based upon information from U.S. Customs and Border Protection press release

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