El Paso, Texas (AP) – A Peruvian woman was acquitted Thursday of unauthorized entry after crossing the US border illegally, marking the first trial that stemmed from the Trump administration’s initiative to prosecute immigrants entering specific regions of New Mexico and western Texas, including a newly designated military zone.
Adilly Vanessa de la Cruz Alvarez, 21, was apprehended last month close to Tornilo, Texas.
Alongside the illegal entry charge, she also faced allegations related to her access to the military zone. She is one of several immigrants prosecuted under this law since the Trump administration shifted oversight of border land to the military. This initiative aligns with a broader strategy by the Department to tighten regulations on illegal immigration.
The Associated Press contacted Veronica Teresa Lerma, Dela Cruz Alvarez’s lawyer, on Thursday. In a statement to the Texas Tribune, she emphasized the significance of innocence.
“I hope this sets a precedent for federal cases,” Lerma remarked, “The El Paso community is well aware of the implications of these charges.”
Prior to the trial, a federal magistrate judge in nearby New Mexico dismissed similar charges, citing minimal evidence that immigrants were aware of the military zone’s existence.
Lerma had already been facing deportation due to a previous illegal entry conviction but risked an additional 18 months in prison for entering the militarized zone.
Despite the verdict, U.S. Attorney Justin Simmons for the Western District of Texas expressed his intention to pursue violations in the National Defense Region vigorously. “Ultimately, we’ve seen another undocumented individual found guilty of illegal entry and slated for removal from the United States,” Simmons stated. “This represents a victory for America.”
The government is keen to amplify immigration removals of undocumented individuals in the U.S. as the Trump administration recommits to large-scale deportations. Even with thousands of troops deployed to the border, arrests have dropped to their lowest figures since the mid-1960s.
Source: apnews.com