[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 27 (Friday, February 18, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING SPECIAL AGENT JAIME J. ZAPATA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT B. ADERHOLT

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 18, 2011

  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
express my deepest sorrow about a tragic attack on American law 
enforcement that happened earlier this week in Mexico.
  On Tuesday afternoon, two agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement were attacked by unknown individuals while driving between 
Mexico City and Monterrey, Mexico. Today, I honor the incredible 
sacrifice of Special Agent Jaime J. Zapata, who lost his life in 
service of our country.
  Special Agent Zapata joined ICE in 2006. He joined one of ICE's 
offices in Laredo, Texas, where he served on the Human Smuggling and 
Trafficking Unit, as well as the Border Enforcement Security Task 
Force. He was most recently detailed to ICE's Attache office in Mexico 
City. He began his federal law enforcement career with the Department 
of Homeland Security as a member of the U.S. Border Patrol in Yuma, 
Arizona. A native of Brownsville, Texas, Special Agent Zapata graduated 
from the University of Texas at Brownsville in 2005 with a Bachelor of 
Science in Criminal Justice.
  A second agent who was injured in the attack remains in stable 
condition. My thoughts and prayers are with him.
  These two brave agents gave their all to shield others from harm. 
They worked tirelessly against dangerous criminal elements. They 
bravely took dangerous assignments, ultimately making a profound 
sacrifice.
  They were two of the hundreds of ICE personnel around the globe. 
Honorable agents like these two individuals collaborate with their 
counterparts in joint efforts to dismantle transnational criminal 
organizations. Agents like them give their all day in and day out on 
fighting money laundering, contraband smuggling, weapons proliferation, 
forced child labor, human rights violations, intellectual property 
violations, child exploitation, and human smuggling and trafficking.
  An incident like this serves to remind us, as a Nation, how grateful 
we are for the sacrifices made by these brave men and women every day. 
The work they do serves to make the public safe and protect the 
Nation's security.
  I know that law enforcement is working closely with the authorities 
in Mexico to ensure that the perpetrators of this horrible attack are 
brought to justice as quickly as possible.
  In the meantime, I offer my deepest condolences to the family of 
Special Agent Zapata. He died for a just cause and will forever be 
remembered as a man of courage and honor.
  And a message for the second injured agent: I think I speak for a 
Nation when I say that I hope, and pray, for your recovery. Words 
cannot express our thanks for your service.

                          ____________________