Grand jury returns indictment against two Irving, TX men for assaulting a federal officer

A Laredo, Texas grand jury returned an indictment against two men for their role in assaulting a federal officer, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) news release dated March 5 revealed.

According to the indictment the incident stemmed from two men who applied for admission into the United States at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge in Laredo, Texas. 

LAREDO, Texas — Two men from Irving, Texas were charged Thursday for their role in forcibly assaulting a federal officer.

U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick, Southern District of Texas, announced the charges. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations.

A Laredo grand jury returned the indictment Feb. 25, 2020 against Juan Alfredo Crisencio Martinez, 20, and Jaythan Trevonne Phillips, 20, both from Irving, Texas. Both men went before U.S. District Judge Diana Song Quiroga who charged them with forcible assault.

According to the indictment, the assault took place Feb. 8, 2020. The incident began after they applied for admission into the United States at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge in Laredo. A CBP officer allegedly began to conduct an immigration inspection and asked them to exit the vehicle. They refused, according to the allegations.

The charges allege authorities swarmed the lane to apprehend the occupants. At that time, Martinez allegedly reached for the officer’s belt from inside the vehicle. He also opened the driver’s side door in order to prevent a responding officer from assisting, according to the allegations.

Law enforcement allegedly had to physically carry Phillips to the secondary inspection area.

Martinez continued to resist, according to the allegations. Law enforcement allegedly had to deploy a Taser in order to subdue him.

Read the rest here.

Why Floridians should expect businesses to operate lawfully and have a legal workforce

Well lookie here. Two Honduran nationals not lawfully present in the United States allegedly partner with a third Honduran who is a naturalized U.S. citizen, establish a business  in Florida purportedly employing construction work crews mostly comprised of illegal aliens. 

Oh, and just three short months ago an immigration judge ordered one of the men deported back to Honduras. 

From the U.S. Attorneys Office, Middle District of Florida: 

Three Orlando Men Indicted For Scheme To Facilitate Employment Of Illegal Aliens And Evade Payroll Taxes And Workers’ Compensation Laws

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging three Honduran nationals, Gregorio Fuentes-Zelaya (26), Santiago Erazo-Zelaya (25), and Dennis Barahona (36), with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Fuentes-Zelaya is also charged with one count of conspiracy to commit tax fraud, five counts of wire fraud, and two counts of tax fraud. Additional charges against Erazo-Zelaya include one count of conspiracy to commit tax fraud, one count of wire fraud and one count of tax fraud. Barahona is also charged with one count of wire fraud.

Fuentes-Zelaya and Erazo-Zelaya are Honduran citizens who are illegally present in the United States. On May 8, 2019, an immigration judge ordered Erazo-Zelaya to be deported to Honduras. Barahona is a naturalized U.S. citizen from Honduras.

Read the rest here

No word if someones application to enter the United States or apply for citizenship will be subject to review for false statements or misrepresentations.

Loss of millions in grant money at stake for one Texas county urging Congress issue ID’s for illegals

The Harris County, Texas Commissioners Court is urging “national leaders” aka Congress to enact a plan allowing people not lawfully present in the United States that includes providing them with legal identification. On Tuesday July 30 a resolution (see page 35) is on the court agenda that, if adopted, would amount to an estimated loss of over $22 million dollars in Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) grants affecting over 94 FTE's (full-time equivalents) for the county.

“now therefore be it resolved…that Harris County Commissioners Court calls on national leaders to adopt legislation that comprehensively reforms immigration policy, including enactment of a plan that allows people without permanent legal immigration status, and who have demonstrated a desire to remain in the United States, to gain a status that permits them to remain in the United States, work and obtain legal identification…

Note also the resolution acknowledges over 412,000 persons in the county are estimated to be not lawfully present in Harris County.

So how much in grant money would Harris County stand to lose should Commissioners Court adopt this resolution?

An internal memo obtained by County Examiner reveals an analysis of over $22 million in grants funds affecting over 94 FTE (full-time equivalent Harris County employees) are at risk. These funds, listed in the table below, affect the budgets of the:

• Harris County District Attorney
• Harris County Juvenile Probation
• Harris County Constable Precincts 4, 5 and 7
• Harris County District Courts
• Harris County Judge
• Harris County Sheriffs Department
• Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences
• Harris County Protective Service; Children and Adults
• Office of County Court Management

Read the entire memo here.

Harris County Commissioners Court meets Tuesday July 30 at 10 a.m. at 1001 Preston Street, Suite 394, Houston, TX 77002.

Better get there early.

Texas Immigration Attorney Arrested for Bribery

From the U.S. Attorneys Office, Southern District of Texas

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Federal authorities have arrested a Weslaco attorney following the return of an indictment alleging conspiracy and bribery involving immigration detention employees, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.   

Today, law enforcement took Roel Alaniz, 39, of Weslaco, into custody. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ignacio Torteya III tomorrow at 10:00.

The seven-count indictment, returned yesterday, alleges he obtained “alien detainee roster lists” from immigration detention employees who received cash payments in return.

In May 2019, a federal grand jury also indicted Benito Barrientez, 42, of Lyford, Damian Ortiz, 30, of Weslaco, and Exy Adelaida Gomez, 42, of Los Fresnos. Barrientez and Ortiz were employed at the Willacy County Regional Detention Center, while Gomez was employed at the El Valle Detention Center. Both facilities are located in Raymondville. (read the rest here)

Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Immigration and SORNA violations

Headlines such as these result in ever-increasing numbers of U.S. citizens opposed to passage of any laws granting amnesty or temporary protected status from deportation to anyone in the country illegally.

Read the full news release here.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 57-year-old Guatemalan national has admitted to two federal felonies after sexual assault conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.  

On or about July 19, 2002, Jose Paxtor-Chiroy was convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a five-year-old child in Harris County. Following his state prison sentence, federal authorities ordered he be deported from the United States and to not return. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender.

He had previously faced removal proceedings on two other occasions.

In the early morning hours of Feb. 27, 2018, authorities located Paxtor-Chiroy walking through a ranch near Sarita. He was attempting to avoid the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint. At the time of his arrest, he admitted he unlawfully entered the United States by traveling across the Rio Grande River near Hidalgo County.

Under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), convicted sex offenders must provide registration updates annually or quarterly, depending on the reportable conviction. Today, Paxtor-Chiroy admitted in federal court that he failed to do so as required. He also pleaded guilty to illegal re-entry into the United States after deportation.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos will impose sentencing Nov. 6, 2019. For the immigration offense, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison, while the failing to update his sex offender registration carries a potential 10-year-term of imprisonment. Both convictions also carry a potential $250,000 maximum fine. Not a U.S. citizen, he is again expected to face deportation proceedings.

ICE removes 37 Cambodian nationals via Dallas, TX

WASHINGTON –  Thirty-seven Cambodian nationals, most convicted criminals, were repatriated to Cambodia, Tuesday, in accordance with their final removal orders following immigration court proceedings.

Among these 37 individuals were 35 convicted criminals, who traveled via a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) ICE Air Operations (IAO) flight from Dallas, Texas to their home country.

Their combined criminal convictions include: three counts of murder, two counts of rape, two counts of aggravated assault, five counts of aggravated assault with a weapon, two counts of assault, sexual assault,  three counts of attempted murder, burglary, child abuse, lewd act on a minor, driving under the influence, larceny, stolen property, two counts of firearm possession, two weapon offenses, traffic offence, forgery, three counts of robbery, resisting arrest, auto theft, and seven drug convictions.

Read the rest here.