Rep. Flores says ‘it’s only right’ slain ICE officer’s family will receive benefits, after 10+ year delay

EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Texas, says “it is solely proper” that the household of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent who was killed in Mexico greater than 10 years in the past has acquired demise gratuity advantages after her workplace lobbied on their behalf – whereas additionally promising to struggle for another households going through comparable delays.

Particular Agent Jaime Zapata was gunned down in Mexico in February 2011 by hit squads working for the Los Zetas as a part of a carjacking try. Zapata was killed and his colleague, Particular Agent Victor Avila, was wounded within the assault

The cartel members fired into the car with handguns and semi-automatic weapons, together with AK-47 and AR-15-style rifles. Investigators discovered roughly 90 shell casings on the scene, in line with proof offered in court docket. Nevertheless, whereas seven perpetrators had been apprehended and extradited, homicide prices had been finally dismissed as a result of the crime occurred outdoors the U.S., and the district court docket discovered it didn’t have jurisdiction.

Zapata’s household didn’t obtain demise gratuity advantages — together with the reimbursement of funeral and journey bills. Flores’ workplace stated it intervened a number of instances with applicable businesses, and Zapata’s household was reimbursed this week for the prices from over a decade in the past.

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“Jaime Zapata was a hero who died in protection of our nation. He was killed in Mexico on task for america, and it’s really irritating to see that the households had not acquired the advantages of their son, and it’s solely proper for his or her household to obtain his advantages,” Rep. Flores instructed Fox Information Digital in an interview.

Mary Zapata, Jaime’s mom, launched an announcement saying that Flores completed “extra for my household in six weeks than others have completed in additional than eleven years.” 

“My son, Jaime Jorge Zapata, misplaced his life to maintain our Rio Grande Valley group secure. Mayra’s dedication to honor his service helped us obtain his demise gratuity advantages. It’s most appreciated,” she stated. “No household ought to ever must undergo the ache and struggling of dropping a member of the family, solely to be forgotten by Washington bureaucrats for greater than eleven years!”

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Flores expressed concern that there could also be different households within the U.S. who’re going through comparable points to the Zapata household.

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“I’m so glad that we had been capable of assist the Zapata household however what number of extra households just like the Zapata household do we have now in Texas, do we have now in america?” she instructed Fox Information Digital. “That’s the reason I am right here in Congress, to struggle for households just like the Zapata household.”

President Biden final yr signed bipartisan laws named after Zapata and Avila. The Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila Federal Legislation Enforcement Safety Act ensures extraterritorial jurisdiction over the assault, kidnapping and homicide of federal workers overseas, which means perpetrators might be prosecuted in U.S. federal court docket.