.S. officials express shock that a man who allegedly ran over a Border Patrol agent Jan. 19 in Imperial County was released, apparently without
restrictions.
By Nicole Gaouette and Joel Rubin, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
10:53 PM PDT, June 25, 2008
U.S. officials have expressed shock that a Mexican judge had freed a man imprisoned in connection with the death of a U.S. Border Patrol agent in
California this year, according to a statement issued Wednesday by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.
Border Patrol Agent Luis Aguilar was killed Jan. 19 near the Imperial Sand Dunes in Imperial County as he was trying to stop two vehicles that had
entered the U.S. illegally. One of the vehicles struck Aguilar as he was laying down a spike strip to stop it from escaping across the border.
Jesus Navarro Montes, a Mexican national, was arrested three days later in northern Mexico in connection with the killing and had been held over for
trial there on migrant smuggling charges. The circumstances of his recent release from a Mexicali prison could not be determined Wednesday.
"We are working with a determined Mexican government and our Department of Justice to seek swift justice for the Aguilar murder," Chertoff said in a
statement. "We have also assured Agent Aguilar's family that every resource is being called upon in the relentless pursuit of justice."
T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council, the union representing border agents, expressed disbelief when told of Montes' release.
"How can a guy who murdered one of our law enforcement agents just be released like that?"
Bonner said it was his understanding that Montes was released without any restrictions. "He could be anywhere by now," he said.
Authorities believe Montes left Mexicali in Baja California in a Hummer carrying drugs and headed across sand dunes into the U.S., according to
Mexico's federal attorney general's office and Public Safety Department.
Border Patrol agents saw the vehicles on Interstate 8 and pursued them. After Aguilar was struck, Montes continued across the border into Mexico and
drove to Mexicali, where he gave the Hummer to accomplices for safekeeping, according to the attorney general's office.
Chertoff has cited the border agent's killing as an example of rising border violence, which he attributes to the increased desperation of smugglers
and drug traffickers trying to get their goods into the U.S. Chertoff had previously praised the Mexican government's cooperation in tracking down
Aguilar's killer.
In Washington on Wednesday, Mexican government spokesman Ricardo Alday said, "The United States, to this date, has presented neither a provisional
order of arrest for Mr. Navarro Montes nor a formal extradition request."
nicole.gaouette@latimes.com
joel.rubin@latimes.com
The Associated Press contributed to this report.Woooosh - 6-26-2008 at 11:32 AM
Always one sided. They beg the USA for money to help fight the narcos- then let them go on their side, as usual. You think maybe a narco with
enough bucks/prestige/balls to drive a friggin Hummer across the border illegally and run over/kill a border patrol agent might have friends back in
Mexico who could let him out of Jail?? lol
If we play their game we are as Stuck on Stupid as they are.
When will Mexico address/explain how their active duty soldiers, in military garb with Mexican Amry-issued weapons is puling off crime in Phoenix?DENNIS - 6-26-2008 at 11:32 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by rdrrm8e
T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council, the union representing border agents, expressed disbelief when told of Montes' release.
"How can a guy who murdered one of our law enforcement agents just be released like that?"
Mister Bonner must be deaf, dumb and blind. How could he have attained his position without realizing that Mexico consideres him, and everybody he
represents, the enemy. A poll taken in Mexico would reveal that the mans release was his reward.bajalou - 6-26-2008 at 12:09 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by rdrrm8e
.
In Washington on Wednesday, Mexican government spokesman Ricardo Alday said, "The United States, to this date, has presented neither a provisional
order of arrest for Mr. Navarro Montes nor a formal extradition request."
And why is this? Seems like the first thing the US DA would want to do.Woooosh - 6-26-2008 at 03:04 PM
Must have got lost in the mail... lol Even without a formal request you'd think Mexico (while waiting for a billion US dollars to help them fight
narcos) would be smart enough to hold him until the order came- or maybe ask what they should do with the murderer. Stuck on Stupid. They ask for
help catching narcos while letting them go on their side. I'll bet the aid never comes now... and shouldn't. I wouldn't give Mexico a friggin Peso
top stop southbound arms traffic until they start inspecting cars entering Mexico. These guns come in by family car- no need for trucks or
border-fence jockeys.
[Edited on 6-26-2008 by Woooosh]DENNIS - 6-26-2008 at 05:50 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh
Must have got lost in the mail... lol Even without a formal request you'd think Mexico (while waiting for a billion US dollars to help them fight
narcos) would be smart enough to hold him until the order came- or maybe ask what they should do with the murderer. Stuck on Stupid. They ask for
help catching narcos while letting them go on their side. I'll bet the aid never comes now... and shouldn't. I wouldn't give Mexico a friggin Peso
top stop southbound arms traffic until they start inspecting cars entering Mexico. These guns come in by family car- no need for trucks or
border-fence jockeys.
Agreed. This should put an end to financial help to this infected country. It won't/can't effect the cure. Just when you think they have a
president that can do the job, a smarmy little judge ruins everything. Calderón should have a serious talk with this assassin if he's serious about
stopping the crap but, he only thinks he's boss. The cartels are stronger than anybody knows. Mexico's Al Quaeda.twogringos - 6-26-2008 at 06:57 PM
Could be he wasn't the right guy? Or guilty until...Woooosh - 6-26-2008 at 07:00 PM
The presumption of innocence until guilt is proven will not begin in Mexico until the new judicial rules do in 2016 (maybe). Good one! DENNIS - 6-26-2008 at 07:10 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh
The presumption of innocence until guilt is proven will not begin in Mexico until the new judicial rules do in 2016 (maybe). Good one!
Yeah. Good one. The street trash will have it figuered out long before the legal scholars will. They learned all about it in the states.
