Three soldiers from Fort Cavazos have been arrested on charges related to a human smuggling operation near the Texas-Mexico border. The United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Texas announced that the soldiers were involved in an alleged conspiracy to smuggle undocumented immigrants.
The arrests followed a vehicle stop by U.S. Border Patrol agents in City of Presidio, Texas, where the driver fled, striking a Border Patrol vehicle and injuring an agent. Law enforcement agencies pursued the vehicle, ultimately stopping it and apprehending four individuals. Among those detained were three undocumented immigrants—one from Mexico and two from Guatemala—and a U.S. soldier, Emilio Mendoza Lopez, who claimed to be a passenger.
The alleged driver, Angel Palma, also from Fort Cavazos, fled on foot but was later captured at a hotel in Odessa, Texas. Investigators identified a third soldier, Enrique Jauregui, as the alleged mastermind behind the smuggling operation.
Court documents revealed text messages between the three soldiers coordinating the plan. According to authorities:
- Lopez faces one count of bringing in and harboring aliens.
- Palma and Jauregui face charges of bringing in and harboring aliens, as well as assaulting a federal agent.
This incident highlights ongoing challenges at the Texas-Mexico border, where human smuggling has become a persistent issue. It also raises concerns about the involvement of military personnel in such operations. If convicted, the soldiers face severe penalties for their actions.
