Ex-Juárez city official charged with falsely claiming to be US citizen

By Diana Washington Valdez / El Paso Times
Posted: 07/05/2011 03:30:46 PM MDT

A former Juárez city official is awaiting trial on federal charges that he falsely claimed to be a U.S. citizen, according to court records.
Hector Isai Serna Garcia, 32, was arrested April 4 after he told U.S. officials at the Paso del Norte international bridge that he was a U.S. citizen. Serna was denied bond and pleaded not guilty last month in U.S. federal court.

According to the criminal complaint against him, Serna presented a U.S. passport and told a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer that he was born in the United States.

The "officer conducted a routine query and an alert resulted for a warrant out of Nevada," court records show.

During secondary inspection, CBP database queries revealed that Serna applied for a DSP-150 Laser Visa at the American Consulate in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico claiming a different date of birth and place of birth, court records show.

"The query revealed (Serna) was born in Nuevo Leon Sabinas, Hidalgo," according to court documents.

According to a statement issued by the City of Juárez, Serna worked for the Mayor Hector Murguia's administration from Oct. 1 to May 2, first in the mayor's personal services office and later as the purchasing director.

Serna faces a maximum $250,000 fine and three years in prison.

Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6140.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_18411708