Three U.S. Army soldiers stationed at Fort Cavazos, Texas, face federal charges for an alleged human smuggling operation near the southern border. The soldiers allegedly conspired to transport undocumented individuals from Mexico and Guatemala into the United States.
U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested Emilio Mendoza Lopez, Angel Palma, 20, and Enrique Jauregui, 25, after a November incident in Presidio, Texas, court documents revealed.
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On Nov. 27, agents attempted to stop a vehicle near the U.S.-Mexico border. The driver, allegedly Palma, fled the scene after striking a CBP vehicle and injuring an agent inside. Authorities later stopped the vehicle and detained four individuals, including Mendoza Lopez and three undocumented individuals — a Mexican national and two Guatemalan nationals.
Investigators said Mendoza Lopez and Palma traveled from Fort Cavazos to Presidio to pick up and transport the noncitizens.
Jauregui allegedly recruited and facilitated the smuggling operation. Evidence extracted from Palma’s phone reportedly showed messages indicating collaboration among the three soldiers.
Mendoza Lopez attended an initial court appearance on Dec. 2 in Alpine, Texas. Officials charged him with one count of bringing in and harboring noncitizens. Palma and Jauregui, who were arrested on Dec. 3 at Fort Cavazos, face the same charge, along with an additional count of assaulting a federal agent. Both are scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 6 in Waco, Texas.
If convicted, the soldiers face significant penalties.
Fort Cavazos officials confirmed the arrests and stated they are cooperating fully with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The investigation remains ongoing by Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Border Patrol and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division.
