To: FJB who wrote (257 ) 2/2/2012 7:12:00 PM From: joseffy 2 Recommendations Respond to AND the US Customs agent killed in Mexico.Jaime Zapata (U.S. agent) Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Jaime Zapata Born May 7, 1978Brownsville, Texas , United States [1] Died February 15, 2011 (aged 32)San Luis Potosí , Mexico Organization Homeland Security Investigations Jaime Jorge Zapata (May 7, 1978 – February 15, 2011) was a Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent who was ambushed and shot dead by the Mexican criminal group Los Zetas in San Luis Potosí , Mexico . [2] He was one of the two agents that was ambushed at a fake roadblock, known as a narco-blockade , in a part of the country that is increasingly under the influence of drug violence. [3] Zapata's death is the second highest-profile killing of a U.S. agent in Mexico—the first one was Enrique Camarena , an undercover DEA agent who was tortured and murdered by the former Guadalajara Cartel . [4] hide ] edit ] Biography Jaime Zapata was born in Brownsville, Texas , United States, a border city directly north across Matamoros, Tamaulipas , Mexico. He was one of five brothers, all in the field of criminal justice. [5] Zapata attended Hanna High School, and later graduated from the University of Texas at Brownsville in 1995, where he attained a degree in Criminal Justice and an associate's degree in Applied Science . [6] Zapata then joined Homeland Security Investigations in 2006, after being assigned to the Office of the Deputy special agent in Laredo, Texas , where he served on the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Unit [7] and in the Border Enforcement Security Task Force. [8] edit ] Death Two U.S. Homeland Security Investigations Special Agents, Jaime Zapata and Víctor Ávila , were traveling from Laredo, Texas to Mexico City on an assignment for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement . [9] As they drove through the northern state of San Luis Potosí , the agents noticed two SUVs following them down Highway 57, a four-lane, federal highway from Mexico City to Monterrey . The two vehicles that came up behind them were at a high rate of speed, and were described as driving "aggressively," according to agent Ávila. [10] One vehicle passed the agents’ Suburban, while other gunmen started to fire at their vehicle, and eventually rammed them off the road. As one of the agents rolled down the window to inform them that they were U.S. diplomats, the agent recalls how one of the gunmen got off his vehicle, with an assault rifle in his hand, forced the door of the agents’ car open and shot point blank at them. When Zapata shifted the vehicle into park, its doors automatically unlocked. The Zeta gunmen pulled open the driver's side door and tried to drag Zapata out, but he fought them off, managing to re-lock the doors . The agents, however, managed to crack the windows to talk with the assailants and identify themselves. The agents hoped to reason with the gunmen—as many as 15 of them—who surrounded the vehicle. According to congressman McCaul , the agents said "We're Americans, we're diplomats", and the response from the drug cartels was bullets. [11] . Dying, Zapata managed to put the car in gear and drive away before collapsing at the whee l. [12] Soon afterwards, a Mexican federal police helicopter arrived where the two agents were. Ávila was shot twice in the leg, and was later sent to a hospital in the Houston, Texas . [13] Jaime Zapata, however, gravely injured from three bullet shots, died before the authorities could aid him with medical treatment. According to federal sources, the ambush took place near a fake military checkpoint established by the gunmen, who were dressed in camouflage uniforms and armed with machine guns. [14] edit ] Controversy There has been controversy of whether this attack was from a group of Los Zetas carrying on their own operation, or whether this incident was a well-planned and intentional ambush attack against the American agents. [15] [16] The agent's account, however, mentions that the gunmen apparently knew that they were attacking U.S. law enforcement officers, since after Zapata mentioned that they were American diplomats, the Zetas said "We don’t give a [expletive]" and shot both of them. [17] Moreover, the diplomatic plates also indicated who was actually on board. Texas Congressman Michael McCaul mentioned that the gunmen opened fire at the agents after they had identified themselves as U.S. diplomats. [18] White House noted that Zapata's family demanded to know the source of the weapons used in the attack. The gun that killed Zapata and wounded Víctor Ávila—an AK-47 — was purchased by Otilio Osorio in the Dallas, Texas , [19] [20] [21] (outside the area of responsibility for the ATF Phoenix field division [22] which conducted Fast and Furious ), [21] and to suspect a Texas-based operation similar to Operation Fast and Furious , a sting operation run by the United States in which more than 2,000 guns were allowed to "walk" illegally into Mexico; only 600 of them have been recovered, the other 1,400 are still at large. [23] drug cartels . [24] On another note, the slaying of Zapata has sparked a debate on whether or not U.S. agents in Mexico should be allowed to carry guns to defend themselves. President Felipe Calderón mentioned during his visit to Washington, D.C. on March 3 that "alternatives" would be examined with Congress to improve the security of U.S. agents working in Mexico. [25] U.S. Agents in federal law enforcement are extremely angry at what they view as the U.S. governments lack of effort to make the Mexican government authorize the arming of U.S. Agents working with Mexican law enforcement in Mexico for the purpose of self-defense.edit ] Aftermath The death of Jaime Zapata allowed for the United States to work closely with officials on the Mexican-led investigation to ensure the perpetrators were captured as quickly as possible. [26] Throughout the investigation, all the killers were eventually captured, including Jesús Enrique Rejón Aguilar , the third most powerful leader in Los Zetas and boss of the state where Zapata was killed. [27] edit ] Reactions Barack Obama : "The United States will work with Mexico to bring the assailants to justice." [28] Janet Napolitano : "Let me be clear: Any act of violence against our ICE personnel — or any DHS personnel — is an attack against all those who serve our nation and put their lives at risk for our safety." [29] Michael McCaul : "The United States will not tolerate acts of violence against its citizens or law enforcement and I believe we must respond forcefully." [30] Pat Ahumada : "I am angered by this and frustrated that the Mexican government is not providing security to our agents while we are trying to help them. Criminals have the firepower in Mexico." [31] Felipe Calderón : "His death must urge us to work together to ensure a prosperous and peaceful future for our region." [32] "One of those weapons [of Operation Fast and Furious ] was the one that killed officer Zapata, an American agent in Mexico... the American agencies should stop the criminal flow of arms into Mexico." [33] Fernando Toranzo Fernández : "We will use all our judicial and investigational instruments to find those responsible." [34] Alejandro Poiré : "The President said it before: there's a huge demand of drugs in the U.S., and Mexico is the corridor for that market. The flow of weapons to Mexico from the United States are acquired by the Mexican drug cartels. That generates violence." [35] edit ] References ^ Brito, Luis (Jueves, 17 de febrero de 2011 a las 12:41). "Jaime Zapata, el segundo agente asesinado en la historia del ICE" . CNN Mexico . ^ "Hombres armados balean en México a 2 agentes de EU; uno de ellos muere" . CNN Mexico . Martes, 15 de febrero de 2011. ^ "Jaime J. Zapata, US Homeland Security Investigations , shot and killed in Mexico (VIDEO)". News Desk . February 16, 2011. ^ Corcoran, Katherine (February 16, 2011). "Gunmen Kill US Agent, Wound Another, in Mexico" . ABC News . ^ Attkisson, Sharyl. "Murdered U.S. agent's family wants answers" . CBS News . Retrieved 20 November 2011. ^ Gomez, Serafin (February 16, 2011). "Who was Jaime Zapata? Hero Remembered" . Fox News . ^ "Rep. Farenthold and Cuellar applaud the Passage of the Jaime Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act" . My Harlingen News . Thursday, September 22, 2011. ^ "Jaime Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act" . CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE. Retrieved 21 October 2011. ^ "ICE special agents brutally attacked; suspects sought by authorities" . U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement . FEBRUARY 16, 2011. ^ "Drug gang shot U.S. agents, Mexican governor says" . MSN News . 2/16/2011 8:23:39. ^ "Jaime Zapata Told Gunmen "We’re Diplomats"" . Fox News Insider . February 17, 2011. ^ "Agent battled with his killers" . My San Antonio News . Thursday, February 17, 2011. ^ Leibowitz, Barry (February 16, 2011). "Jaime Zapata, U.S. Immigration Agent, Shot Dead in Mexico in Apparent Ambush" . CBS News . ^ "Who was Jaime Zapata? Hero Remembered" . Fox News . February 16, 2011. ^ "Cartel hit possibly behind US agent killing, congressman says" . CNN News . February 17, 2011. ^ "Se confunden los Zetas matan a Agente de EU" . Oye Mexico . 24 febrero, 2011. ^ Longmire, Sylvia (02/21/2011 (12:00am)). "Homeland Security Implications Of Los Zetas Attack On ICE Agents" . Homeland Security Today . ^ "RPT: Mexican Gunmen Knew They Were Firing at ICE Agents" . Fox News Insider . February 17, 2011. ^ "Assault rifle used in U.S. agent's killing in Mexico traced to Texas" . LA Times . Retrieved 30 November 2011. ^ "Janet Napolitano desconocía que EU permitía el tráfico de armas a México" . CNN Mexico . Miércoles, 09 de marzo de 2011.^ a b "Straw purchaser of guns pleads guilty in Dallas; defendant linked to Zapata death" . The Brownsville Herald. Retrieved 15 November 2011. ^ "Phoenix Field Division" . ATF. Retrieved 15 November 2011. ^ Titus, Elizabeth. "Cornyn Presses Holder on Alleged Texas Operation" . The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 15 November 2011. ^ "Una de las armas usadas contra el agente Zapata provenía de Texas" . CNN Mexico . Lunes, 28 de febrero de 2011. ^ "Mexican judge starts extradition process for U.S. agent's killer" . Fox Latino News . May 17, 2011. ^ "Killing of U.S. Agent In Mexico Could Raise Pressure on Mexico" . CSMonitor . 16 February 2011. ^ "Alleged Zetas Cartel Leader Captured by Mexican Police" . New York Times . July 4, 2011. ^ "Obama calls parents of killed agent" . Politico 44 . 02/16/11. ^ "1 U.S. customs agents dead, 1 wounded in Mexico" . MSN News . 2/16/2011. ^ "Statement by Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX)" . Washington, D.C. Office . 02/16/11. ^ "Condolences for family of slain ICE agent" . The Brownsville Herald . February 16, 2011. ^ "Obama, Calderon pledge cooperation on drug wars" . MSN News . 3/4/2011. ^ "Univision: Interview with Felipe Calderón, President of Mexico" . Latina Lista . May 15, 2011. ^ "Grave, la inseguridad en SLP, dice el gobernador" . La Jornada . Jueves 17 de febrero de 2011. ^ "No hay corresponsabilidad en el decomiso de armas por parte de EU: Poiré" . CNN Mexico (translated) . 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