Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jaime Zapata
was killed in February 2011. Photo: AP/ SA
Posted on 06/21/2012 2:20:27 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
Lawyers representing the family of slain ICE agent Jaime Zapata say they have filed a wrongful death claim against the federal government.
Zapata and Victor Avila, also a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, were forced off a Mexico highway by cartel gunmen in February 2011. Zapata was shot multiple times and killed. Avila survived the attack.
The complaint alleges the agents should not have been tasked with driving through a dangerous area of Mexico to transport “sensitive equipment.” It also claims the U.S. government allowed the guns used in the attack to be smuggled into Mexico, after purchase by straw buyers in Texas.
“Jaime was murdered by narco-traffickers,” the Zapata family's attorney wrote in the complaint. “But the reckless omissions by ICE, ATF and FBI created the opportunity for his death to occur.”
Zapata's family in Brownsville must go through a claims process before it can sue. They're asking for $25 million in damages in two separate claims, one by the family and one by Zapata's estate. In a similar complaint, Avila is seeking $12.5 million.
Zapata's family alleges that a program similar to Operation Fast and Furious, in which ATF agents in Arizona allowed guns into Mexico, was responsible for guns purchased in the Dallas area and in Beaumont to fall into the hands of Los Zetas gang members and used against the ICE agents.
A House panel on Wednesday voted to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt for not turning over documents related to Fast and Furious. Federal agents have arrested 13 people in connection to the gun-smuggling rings in Texas.
Neither Zapata's family nor the Department of Justice responded to requests for comment Wednesday afternoon.
No Kidding this is murder at 1600 Pennsyanlia ave
Hey,
Nixon was impeached, and disgraced forever for FAR LESS than this and this marxist punk is going to walk???
Boehner has NO guts, NO balls and doesn’t care to look like a racist??
Yo Boehner, Bite me.
Nixon was NOT impeached. Read your history.
That’s right. Regardless of how you feel about him, Nixon resigned to spare the country the ordeal that Clinton subjected us to in `98-99. Chances are slim that Nixon would have been impeached and/or removed if he had fought it.
Nixon also conceded the 1960 presidential election rather than put the country through the ordeal that Gore subjected us to in 2000. Kennedy stole that election with the help of Daley and dead Democrats in Chicago, and Johnson’s precinct 13 in Texas.
Democrats always take the high ground doncha know—the party of the people and all that ////nukeular sarkasm
IMHO, Obama should be impeached and removed. He makes Clinton look like a choirboy.
As you say, Nixon didn’t want to put the country through the trauma. Democrats are completely narcissistic and do not care what trouble they bring to other people.
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