[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 120 (Thursday, September 11, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1745]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


       TRIBUTE TO CUSTOMS SENIOR INSPECTOR VIRGINIA C. RODRIGUEZ

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                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 11, 1997

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a very special 
law enforcement agent, who, by virtue of her quick-thinking and 
intuition, captured one of the most-wanted robbers in the United States 
and recovered a portion of the biggest heist in U.S. history.
  As a former law enforcement officer myself, I have a unique 
understanding of the difficulties facing peace officers. I also know 
how important it is for law enforcement officers to follow their 
instincts. On August 30, 1997, customs senior inspector, Virginia C. 
Rodriguez, was spot checking passengers coming across the border, and 
her intuition told her that something just wasn't right about passenger 
Phillip Johnson traveling from Matamoros, Mexico, to Brownsville, TX.
  Upon closer questioning, Johnson remained calm, but this law 
enforcement officer just felt like something was not right about this 
guy. So she went through his luggage and came across $10,000 and 
several fake identification cards with various aliases. The agents at 
the port of entry soon realized that the quick work and level head of 
Ms. Rodriguez had snagged the man who pulled off the biggest robbery in 
U.S. history.
  Phillip should have stayed in Mexico. Ms. Rodriguez, a former Border 
Patrol agent, represents the very finest in the law enforcement 
tradition. She used all her skills, including the most important, 
intuition, to go above and beyond the call of duty.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in commending and thanking this 
outstanding law enforcement agent who lives in Harlingen, TX.

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