An investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents revealed that three U.S. Army soldiers are running an immigrant smuggling ring based at Fort Cavazos near Killeen, Texas.
HSI agents arrested soldiers Emilio Mendoza López, Ángel Palma, and Enrique Jauregui, who now face federal criminal charges for importing and harboring foreign nationals. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas announced Wednesday that two of the defendants will face additional charges of assault on a federal officer.
The investigation began on November 27 when Border Patrol agents in Presidio, Texas, stopped a suspicious vehicle. When Border Patrol agents approached the passenger side to question the occupants, the vehicle fled, law enforcement officials said. As the vehicle fled, the suspect vehicle collided with a second Border Patrol vehicle, injuring the officer inside the vehicle.
Presidio County deputies and Presidio Police Department officers eventually stopped the vehicle, according to a filed criminal complaint. They arrested four people. Three of the residents were identified as immigrants living in the United States illegally, including one Mexican and two Guatemalan nationals. Authorities identified the fourth person as Emilio Mendoza Lopez, who claimed to be the front seat passenger in the vehicle. Mendoza was later identified as a U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood).
The driver, identified as Army soldier Ángel Palma, fled on foot and was found by authorities the next day at a hotel in Odessa. Investigators examined data extracted from Angel Palma's cell phone pursuant to a search warrant. They discovered messages between three soldiers revealing cooperation in a smuggling operation in which soldiers from Fort Cavazos were participating. Presidio, Texas, is about 800 miles from where the soldiers work.
Based on information revealed by the examination of Palma's mobile phone, soldier Enrique Jauregui is believed to be the recruiter and facilitator of the migrant smuggling operation. Mendoza-Lopez appeared before federal Judge David B. Fannin in Alpine, Texas, on Monday. Mendoza-Lopez is charged with introducing and harboring a foreign national.
Ángel Palma and Enrique Jauregui were arrested in Cavazos Fort on Tuesday. They are scheduled to appear before Federal Judge Jeffrey Manski for their first appearance hearings in Waco on Friday. The two soldiers have been charged with separate criminal charges, one count of importing and harboring aliens, and the other count of assaulting a federal officer.
A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The announcement was made by Jaime Esparza, United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas.
HSI, the U.S. Border Patrol, and the Army Criminal Investigation Service continue to investigate this incident.
randy clark He is a 32-year veteran of the U.S. Border Patrol. Prior to his retirement, he served as Division Chief of Law Enforcement Operations, directing operations for nine Border Patrol stations within the Del Rio, Texas area. Follow him at X (formerly Twitter) @RandyClarkBBTX.
