Woman deported for claiming jackpot prize
Woman deported for claiming jackpot prize
Published: 1/08 10:00 am
TUCSON, Arizona (KVOA) -- A woman who won at the casino ended up losing big time when Border Patrol agents were called and she was deported to Mexico.
Mirna Valenzuela went to claim her $1,200 jack pot on December 2nd at Casino del Sol in Tucson, Arizona.
She gave the casino an Arizona's driver license.
She was told to come back the next day with her Mexican passport. She did, and she took her daughter with her. After waiting for some time, Border Patrol Agents showed up and took them into custody.
The daughter was eventually released, but mom is back in Mexico.
Valenzuela, 43, was a casino club card carrier. She received perks and other benefits for being a regular guest.
Her daughter says she had won money in the past, and she'd always given the casino her driver's license as her proof of ID. It's the same driver's license that got her the casino club card.
Zamira Osorio the daughter says, "It's never happened before so we're surprised about the whole situation."
Now, the single mother of four is unable to collect the cash and is in Mexico without her children.
"My family and I feel devastated about it."
Wendell Long is the CEO of Casino Del Sol, he says "We think it's a very unfortunate incident. We hate to see anyone suffer any pain or grief." He adds, "We do not care if they are in the country legally or illegally. That's not what we do. We're here to provide great entertainment."
Long says, "If she had shown us her Mexican passport her valid Mexican passport there wouldn't have been any problem at all."
Osorio admits her mom has been deported in the past. But says she's a good person who came here to give Zamira a better life that was 20 years ago. "I didn't ask to come to this country illegal that's just the way my parents brought me here. It's not something that I chose."
She says she is thankful for the Dream Act because if hadn't been for that she would have been deported as well. "That would have been a very bad situation for my children and brothers and sister."
Woman deported for claiming jackpot prize - KSN TV, Kansas News and Weather
I wonder how many times her EBT card wne through the ATM at the casino....
