Rep. Flores says 'it's only right' slain ICE officer’s family will receive benefits, after 10+ year delay
Fox News
Rep. Mayra Flores' office helped secure death gratuity benefits for the family of an ICE agent who was gunned down in Mexico in 2011 by a Mexican drug cartel.
Adam Shaw is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, with a focus on immigration. He can be reached at adam.shaw2@fox.com or on Twitter: @AdamShawNY
The cartel members fired into the vehicle with handguns and semi-automatic weapons, including AK-47 and AR-15-style rifles. Investigators found approximately 90 shell casings at the scene, according to evidence presented in court. However, while seven perpetrators were apprehended and extradited, murder charges were eventually dismissed because the crime occurred outside the U.S., and the district court found it did not have jurisdiction.
Zapata’s family did not receive death gratuity benefits -- including the reimbursement of funeral and travel expenses. Flores’ office said it intervened multiple times with appropriate agencies, and Zapata’s family was reimbursed this week for the costs from over a decade ago.