A 39-year-old Mexican national, Juan Ramirez Cortez, has been arrested and charged in relation to unlawful employment and harboring of other illegal aliens at a local taco restaurant in Mission, Texas.
According to the charges, Cortez was the manager at Ole Taco in Mission, where he allegedly hired and employed more than a dozen people with no authority to be in the country. The criminal complaint alleges that he hired at least 10 illegal aliens, and as part of his role, he was responsible for filling out employment paperwork and checking the immigration documents of employees.
Authorities took Cortez into custody during an enforcement action on July 10. He has made his initial appearance and is scheduled for a preliminary and detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Juan F. Alanis at 3 p.m. July 15. Cortez remains in custody pending that hearing.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI with the assistance of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – Homeland Security Investigations, ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Storey Lyles is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Cortez faces up to five years in federal prison. The charges against him are serious and highlight the ongoing issue of illegal employment and human trafficking in the United States. The case against Cortez is a reminder that those who engage in such activities will be held accountable.
As part of the enforcement action, authorities also arrested 17 other individuals, all determined to be illegal aliens with no authority to be in the United States. The arrests and charges are a result of the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat human trafficking and employment fraud.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement agencies are committed to protecting the rights of all individuals and upholding the law. The case against Juan Ramirez Cortez is a testament to this commitment and serves as a warning to those who would engage in illegal activities.
RELATED: Mexican National Charged in Illegal Alien Harboring at Taco Joint
RELATED: Guajira Maya Lovato, 45, Sentenced in Meth Trafficking Ring
Related Federal Cases
- Santana, Vasquez-Ramirez Lead Alien Smuggling Ring · Texas
- Dilley Detention Center: A Family-Friendly Holding Pen for Deportation · Texas
- Inside Dilley: The Truth About ICE’s Family Detention Center · Texas
- Katy Couple Pleads Guilty in Nanny Forced Labor Scheme · Texas
- Maria E. Gonzales Munoz Sentenced in Houston Sex Trafficking Case · Texas
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Human TraffickingHuman TraffickingHuman TraffickingHuman Trafficking