YUMA, Ariz. — A federal youth law enforcement program remains fully operational despite the recent indictment of one of its supervising agents on 15 felony charges, including the alleged sexual exploitation of a minor participant.
The Border Patrol Explorer program is designed to give teenagers and young adults, ages 14 to 20, a firsthand look at a career in federal law enforcement. Participants engage in ride-alongs, take out-of-town trips, and spend time inside Border Patrol stations. However, recent events in Yuma have cast a harsh light on the program’s oversight and safety protocols.
The Indictment of Ramon Marquez
In May 2025, a Yuma County grand jury indicted 31-year-old Border Patrol Agent Ramon Marquez, who helped run the local Explorer program. Marquez faces 15 felony charges:
14 counts of sexual conduct with a 16-year-old.
1 count of sexual exploitation, stemming from allegations that he recorded the encounters.
According to charging documents, the alleged abuse took place between December 2024 and April 2025. Investigators report that the encounters occurred directly in the context of the Explorer program, taking place during official activities, on out-of-town trips, inside Border Patrol facilities, and within Marquez’s official patrol vehicle while he transported the minor to and from events.
Missed Warning Signs
The investigation was not initiated by a parent or a victim, but by a fellow Border Patrol agent who observed inappropriate interactions between Marquez and the 16-year-old girl.
Following the initial report, further disturbing details emerged. A second Explorer participant came forward, revealing to investigators that Marquez had sent her inappropriate text messages approximately a year earlier and had attempted to arrange private meetings outside of official program activities. Reports indicate that a teenager had flagged Marquez’s behavior to the program a full year before the formal charges were brought, raising questions about how early warning signs were handled by program leadership.
Agency Silence
Marquez currently faces a pending legal case. He has posted a $50,000 bond and was released to his home. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has placed him on administrative leave.
Despite the severity of the charges and the apparent failure to act on prior warnings, the Explorer program continues to operate. CBP has repeatedly declined to comment on the situation. Following inquiries from local news outlet Arizona’s Family regarding the program’s status and the potential implementation of new safety safeguards, the agency provided no response. Five months later, when pressed by a second media outlet, CBP again declined to comment.
There is currently no indication that the Explorer program has been paused or that new protective measures have been instituted for its youth participants.
Source Citations
Yuma Police Department News Release Case 2025-26584: https://kyma.b-cdn.net/2025/05/Sexual-Conduct-with-a-Minor-25-26584.pdf
KTAR News CBP agent accused of sexual relations with teen in Arizona: https://ktar.com/arizona-news/cbp-agent-sexual-relations-minor/5702278/
12News Border Protection agent arrested by Yuma police: https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/border-patrol-agent-arrested-yuma-pd-alleged-crimes-arizona/75-53dc0ef6-685d-4038-a05a-0915cc279ee4
Video Documentation
Arizona’s Family News Report:
