PRESIDIO, TEXAS – Three soldiers stationed at Fort Cavazos are facing federal charges for allegedly conspiring to smuggle undocumented immigrants, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced.
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Incident Details
The soldiers were apprehended on Nov. 27 after a United States Border Patrol (USBP) agent stopped their vehicle near Presidio, Texas. The vehicle, reportedly carrying three individuals – one Mexican national and two Guatemalan nationals – fled the scene and collided with a second USBP vehicle, injuring an agent, according to the DOJ.
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Authorities eventually stopped the vehicle and apprehended one soldier, Emilio Mendoza Lopez, along with the three undocumented individuals.
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The driver, identified as Angel Palma, fled on foot and was found the next day at a hotel in Odessa, prosecutors said.
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Charges and Accusations
The DOJ alleges that Mendoza Lopez and Palma traveled from Fort Cavazos to Presidio to transport undocumented immigrants. A third soldier, Enrique Jauregui, is accused of recruiting and facilitating the operation.
Text messages obtained from Palma’s phone allegedly revealed collaboration among the three soldiers regarding the smuggling operation.
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- Mendoza Lopez: Charged with one count of “bringing in and harboring aliens.” He made his initial court appearance on Monday.
- Palma and Jauregui: Each faces one count of “bringing in and harboring aliens” and one count of assaulting a federal agent. They were arrested Tuesday and are scheduled to appear in court Friday.
It remains unclear whether any of the soldiers have retained legal representation.
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Army’s Response
A spokesperson for Fort Cavazos confirmed awareness of the arrests, stating the Army is cooperating with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
