Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Two U.S. ICE Agents Shot In San Luis Potosi Mexico, One Reported Dead And Another Wounded

Photo: Universal

Jaime J. Zapata
ICE Special Agent

ICE and DHS working with Mexican authorities to locate assailants.

By H. Nelson Goodson
February 15, 2011

Washington, D.C. - On Tuesday, both the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Department of Homeland Security have confirmed that two ICE agents working for the ICE Attaché Office in Mexico City had been shot in the line of duty while driving to the City of Monterrey in the state of Nuevo Leon from their office.
The two ICE agents were travelling in an armored black SUV vehicle along Highway 57 in the state of San Luis Potosi, when they were forced to stop at an apparent check point near the city of San Luis Potosi controlled by a group of armed men. The suspects then shot at the agents and fatally wounded one of them.
ICE Special Agent Jaime J. Zapata was reported killed after subcumming to injuries and died at a Mexican hospital. Zapata was working for the ICE Laredo, Texas office in the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Unit, including the Border Enforcement Security Task Force. ICE Special Agent Victor Avila was hit in the leg and arm and was flowned to Mexico City for treatment. The agent survived the attack and Mexican Federal Police and the military have launched a dragnet to locate the assailants, according to the Mexican Secretary of Exterior Relations (SRE).
Avila remains in stable condition, according to Janet Napolitano, Department of Homeland Security Secretary. Napolitano in a statement said, "U.S. law enforcement agencies are working closely with Mexican authorities who are investigating the shooting to ensure the perpetrators of this unconscionable crime are captured as quickly as possible."

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