Immigration Reform Caucus

Bilbray Again Seeks Answers in Release of BP Agent’s Killer

 

July 23, 2008

washington, D.C. — Unsatisfied by their response, Congressman Brian Bilbray is once again seeking answers from the White House and the Department of Justice following the release of the prime suspect last month in the killing of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Luis Aguilar in January.

The suspect, Jesus Navarro Montes, was released from a Mexicali jail on June 18, 2008, by Mexicali Federal Judge Laura Serrano Alderete. According to Mexican authorities, Navarro was freed after being cleared of an unrelated migrant smuggling charge, and because the United States did not seek extradition or issue an arrest warrant.

After learning of Navarro’s release, Bilbray, who chairs the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus, sent a letter to President Bush and Attorney General Michael Mukasey on July 10, 2008, demanding answers as to why the federal government apparently did not seek Navarro’s extradition during the five months he was in jail. The letter was co-signed by 38 members of Congress.

On July, 15, 2008, Bilbray received response letters from the White House and Department of Justice, but they failed to provide one scintilla of information regarding the case. Disappointed, Bilbray sent a follow-up letter late yesterday to the White House and the Department of Justice seeking answers to the following questions:

• Has the U.S. issued an arrest warrant for Jesus Navarro Montes? If so, on what date?

• Have charges been filed against Jesus Navarro Montes? If so, on what date?

• Has the U.S. government contacted Mexican authorities regarding extradition either formally or informally? If so, on what    date?

• If the U.S. Department of Justice failed to contact Mexican authorities, who was responsible for that failure?

• Did U.S. officials present Mexican authorities recently with a “provisional arrest request for extradition purposes” for Jesus Navarro Montes, which has been reported in the press? If so on what date?

“The murder of a U.S. law enforcement officer is a serious issue, and I am confident that you both take your responsibilities to the officer, his family and the entire Border Patrol to heart as you seek justice,” wrote Bilbray. “However, it is clear with the Mexican government’s unconditional release of Mr. Navarro, mistakes were made in this instance and in order to ensure that those mistakes are not repeated in the future, answers must be provided. It is for that reason that I was extremely disappointed by your response to our request for information, and why I again request that you provide us with answers.”

Agent Aguilar was run down on January 19, 2008, while deploying a spike strip near the U.S.-Mexico border west of Yuma, Ariz.  He was attempting to disable a pair of fleeing vehicles that were being driven by suspected smugglers. One of the vehicles, a Hummer, drove over Agent Aguilar and then crossed back into Mexico.  It is believed that Navarro was driving the Hummer.

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