Thread: Illegal immigrant in controversial arrest pleads guilty to unlawful reentry

Illegal immigrant in controversial arrest pleads guilty to unlawful reentry

By Ray Bogan
Published March 28, 2017 FoxNews.com


El Paso County Courthouse (Fox News)


EL PASO, TEXAS – The illegal immigrant who was arrested in February after seeking a protective order from her boyfriend pled guilty to illegal reentry Friday, according to an agreement with United States attorney Richard Durbin.

“In this case, removal from the United States is presumptively mandatory,” reads the agreement, a copy of which was obtained by KFOX.

A new hearing will be held on April 13th.

Interest in Irvin Gonzalez's case hit the national level nearly overnight when she was arrested on Feb. 9 while walking into a courthouse to get a protective order.

It prompted local and federal lawmakers to ask the question: Even if she is an illegal immigrant, is it appropriate to arrest someone when they’re walking out of a courthouse to get a protective order from an abusive boyfriend?

Lawmakers were also concerned about the fact that the affidavit didn’t appear to match what happened. The original affidavit said she was arrested outside the courthouse. But security footage emerged which appeared to show a federal agent confront her inside and escort her out.

An amended affidavit was filed on Feb. 28 stating that she was confronted and escorted in the building but arrested outside.

Gonzalez has a criminal history in the United States. She has been deported six times and spent over a year in jail for crimes including domestic battery, illegal entry, and possession of stolen mail. The criminal history may have been extended had it not been for her illegal entry arrest, authorities say.

On Jan. 13, during a police interrogation, she admitted to a money order washing scheme. Gonzalez told police she and her boyfriend stole money orders from mailboxes, washed the names off with transmission fluid, added her boyfriend’s name and deposited the money into his bank account.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/03/28...l-reentry.html

Irvin Gonzalez enters plea agreement, could face deportation
by Jesse Martinez
Monday, March 27th 2017



Surveillance footage from the El Paso County courthouse taken on Feb. 9, 2017.

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14) — A transgender woman detained by federal agents while getting a protective order at the courthouse signed a plea agreement Friday.

Irvin Gonzalez pleaded guilty to illegal re-entry, and as part of the plea agreement, she will face time served.

The plea agreement said that “in this case, removal from the United States is presumptively mandatory.”

However, a separate hearing will be held to determine the process of her removal from the United States.

Gonzalez was detained on Feb. 9 at the El Paso County Courthouse after she received a protective order against her boyfriend.

Surveillance video showed two federal agents escorting her out of the building and into custody.

Gonzalez has a lengthy criminal history that includes multiple deportations, with the most recent being in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Jan. 23, 2016.

She was also sentenced to 180 days in county jail for domestic battery in Los Angeles on Feb. 10, 2011.

Gonzalez was also tied to a money-order washing scheme where she and Mario De Avila worked together to allegedly steal money orders from U.S. Post Office drop-off boxes, wash off the recipient’s name and add De Avila’s, according to court documents.

http://kfoxtv.com/news/local/irvin-g...ce-deportation

You had to read some before you get the info she is a criminal - in more ways than one.

I'm assuming some thinks a courthouse should be an 'arrest-free' zone.

If this had been a known burglar, embezzler, etc., etc., should they not be arrested wherever they are found?

I find it ironic they have enough faith in our legal system to ask it to protect them, yet no respect for obey our laws.

I find it even more ironic that some politicians, pundits,etc. seem to feel the same way.

This sob story is supposed to make us feel sorry for this CRIMINAL????????

I don't think so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Ray Bogan Published April 14, 2017

A transgender woman who was arrested by border patrol while at a courthouse for a protective order was sentenced in Texas to time served Thursday. She was facing an illegal reentry charge.

Irvin Gonzalez, who investigators said entered the U.S. from Mexico illegally, was arrested February 9 at the El Paso County Courthouse and since had been held in the El Paso County Detention Facility next door.

KVIA reported that Gonzalez apologized when asked by the judge if she wanted to say something.

"I would like to apologize for breaking the law of the United States, and I would like to ask you for an opportunity to start my life over in my own country," said Gonzalez.

Her immigration attorney, Melissa Untereker, was happy with the sentence.

“I thought it was a fair sentence in light of the special circumstances in her case,” said Untereker.

The special circumstances, according to Untereker, were “the way that she was arrested, and the way that the CBP [Customs and Border Patrol] agent falsified information in the sworn affidavit to the federal court after her arrest.”

The affidavit filed by the CBP agent regarding her arrest originally said Gonzalez was arrested outside the courthouse. However, that affidavit came under serious public scrutiny by El Paso County leaders and Congressman Beto O’Rourke, after security footage showed the agent meeting Gonzalez inside the building on the 10th floor and escorting her outside.

Gonzalez was being held in the El Paso county jail under federal custody. Now that she’s received the time served sentence for illegal reentry, she’ll be transferred to state custody in the same facility.

Untereker said Gonzalez faces state proceedings for another criminal charge. After that, she’ll go through immigration hearings.

Gonzalez also is charged in a money order washing scheme with the boyfriend she was a seeking a protective order from. They admitted to breaking into mailboxes, stealing money orders, washing the name off with transmission fluid, adding their name, and depositing the money in his bank account.

Gonzalez has been deported six times and has spent over a year in jail for crimes including domestic battery, illegal entry, and possession of stolen mail.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/04/14...l-reentry.html