Texas Guardsmen charged with transporting illegal immigrants

Web Posted: 06/11/2007 11:15 AM CDT

Mariano Castillo
San Antonio Express-News

LAREDO – Three Texas National Guardsmen on duty along the border to help bolster security were charged with conspiracy to transport illegal aliens this morning in federal court here.

Border Patrol agents arrested Jose Rodrigo Torres, 26 and Julio Cesar Pacheco, 25, both of Laredo, and Clarence Hodge Jr., 36, of Fort Worth, last week, the US Attorney’s Office said.

They were released on $75,000 bonds this morning.

All three were on duty in Laredo as part of Operation Jump Start, a border security initiative that sent 6,000 National Guardsmen to the border to assist the Border Patrol, according to a Texas Military Forces press release.

Agents arrested Torres on Thursday after 24 undocumented immigrants were found in a van he was driving on Interstate 35 near Cotulla, the US Attorneys Office reported. He was wearing his uniform as he drove the immigrants.

After an investigation, Pacheco and Hodge were arrested Friday.

Pacheco was alleged to have recruited the others to transport the undocumented immigrants in exchange for $1,000 to $3,500 per trip, the criminal complaint states.

The complaint charges Hodge helped Torres drive through a Border Patrol checkpoint north of Laredo on Interstate 35.

The court document alleges that the trio carried out "several" smuggling trips like the one foiled last week.

Guardsmen assigned to the border do not make immigration arrests. Most work as lookouts and in administrative offices, freeing up more border agents for the field. Guardsmen are also posted at highway checkpoints, where they assist agents with secondary inspections for undocumented immigrants or illegal drugs.

"Our military service members have an affirmative obligation to be actively supportive of our law enforcement partners at every level of government," the Texas Adjutant General Lt. Gen. Chuck Rodriguez said in a prepared statement. "This is our duty. Any breach of the public’s trust and military law by our soldiers will be thoroughly investigated."

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