3 U.S. Soldiers Arrested for Smuggling Immigrants on Texas Border

Three U.S. soldiers were recently arrested and charged with human smuggling along the Texas-Mexico border.

Conspiracy to Smuggle

In a recent release from the United States Attorney's Office Western District of Texas, three soldiers from Fort Cavazos were arrested on criminal charges related to "alleged conspiracy to smuggle undocumented immigrants."

Court documents indicate that, during a vehicle stop by U.S. Border Patrol Agents in the City of Presidio, the car in question immediately sped off as the agent approached the driver. In the fleeing attempt, the car struck a second border patrol vehicle, injuring the agent sitting inside.

In a combined effort from Presidio County Deputies and Presidio Police Officers, the fleeing vehicle was stopped and four individuals were apprehended.

Three undocumented noncitizens were found in the back seat--one from Mexico and two from Guatemala. The fourth, Emilio Mendoza Lopez, was a U.S. soldier from Fort Cavazos who claimed he was just the passenger. The alleged driver, Angel Palma, was also from Fort Cavazos and fled the vehicle on foot to a hotel in Odessa where he was apprehended the next day.

Collaborative Smuggling Operation

Lopez and Palma allegedly came to Presidio from Fort Cavazos for the sole intent of smuggling the three noncitizens. The third soldier, Enrique Jauregui, is said to be the ringleader and the one who orchestrated the pickup.

A search warrant showed messages between all three soldiers prior to their arrests that detailed the smuggling plans.

Lopez, the alleged passenger, is charged with one count of bringing in and harboring aliens. Palma, the alleged driver, and Jauregui, the one claimed to be the head of the operation, were both charged with "one count of bringing in and harboring aliens and one count of assaulting a federal agent," the release indicates.