Thread: TX: Cousins jailed for chase, immigrant smuggling

Cousins jailed for chase, immigrant smuggling
Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.


Two cousins are behind bars after a Palmview chase ended with a crash and the detention of seven illegal immigrants from Central America.

Border Patrol agents arrested Noe Espinoza and his cousin Alejandro Meraz-Cervantes on immigrant smuggling charges Sunday.

A criminal complaint shows that a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) state trooper tried to pull over a blue Pontiac Montana on Bentsen Palm Drive and 4 Mile Line.

The Pontiac sped away but crashed into a fence off Marisol Street and Bentsen Palm Drive.

Several people bailed out of the car but Border Patrol agents were called to the scene.

Authorities were able to track down Espinoza, Meraz-Cervantes and seven illegal immigrants.

Three of the illegal immigrants were from Honduras while another three were from El Salvador and one from Guatemala.

Two passengers, one of them a 16-year-old immigrant, were hurt in the accident. They were treated at the Mission Regional Medical Center and then released to the custody of the Border Patrol.

Court records show that Espinoza is an American citizen while his cousin is an undocumented immigrant from Mexico.

Espinoza is accused of being the driver of the car while Meraz-Cervantes allegedly helped him transport the immigrants.

Both men appeared before U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Dorina Ramos in McAllen on Tuesday morning.

Judge Ramos denied bond for the two men until a Friday morning hearing.

http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=407372

Aren't they cute? I'm so delighted to not be able to feed my family this week, so I can help those lost souls find their way......doesn't that give you a warm and fuzzy feeling; especially after working and paying into this damn country for 40 years now...

Court records show that Espinoza is an American citizen

Probably an Anchor Baby.