Release of suspect in slaying of border agent condemned
The father of an El Paso Border Patrol agent killed in Yuma, Ariz., earlier this year is confused, disappointed and angry that Mexican officials have released a key suspect in the case.
A Mexican judge on Wednesday ordered the release of Jesus Navarro Montes, the man suspected of running over and killing Senior Border Patrol agent Luis Aguilar Jr. of El Paso.
Luis “Louie” Aguilar Sr. said he understood the suspect was in the process of being extradited to the United States to face charges in the death of his son.
“I’m very disappointed,” Aguilar said Wednesday night. “The crime was committed over here. He should be tried in the U.S. under our laws. He killed a federal agent.”
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U.S. officials, including Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, joined Aguilar in expressing outrage at Navarro’s release.
“Every Border Patrol agent in the country is outraged and stunned by this,” said T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council. Bonner said the judge released Navarro with time served.
In a statement, Chertoff said, ‘We are shocked and appalled to learn that Jesus Navarro Montes was recently released by a Mexican judge,” adding that the matter is not over.
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