FLEOA Applauds Senate Passage of the Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila
Federal Officers and
Employees Protection Act
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
May 28, 2021 |
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Larry Cosme, President of the Federal Law
Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) – the
nation’s largest non-partisan, not-for-profit professional association
representing 30,000 federal law enforcement officers and agents across 65
federal agencies – issued the following statement regarding Senate passage of
the Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila Federal Officers and Employees Protection Act:
"Ever since the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated the convictions of two of
the defendants for the murder of Special Agent Zapata and the serious wounding
of Special Agent Avila, FLEOA has advocated for Congressional action to close
this loophole and ensure justice for law enforcement injured abroad. We are
extremely pleased that the U.S. Senate has passed the Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila
Federal Officers and Employees Protection Act by unanimous consent and thank
Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) for their leadership on
this important issue,” President Cosme explained.
"This legislation provides the
United States Government the authority to bring to justice those who attack or
kill federal law enforcement serving across the globe. It ensures all federal officials
serving abroad know their country has their back and will prosecute crimes
against them to the fullest extent possible under the law,” Cosme
furthered.
"In 2011, a cartel attack in Mexico
caused ICE-Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Jaime Zapata to tragically
lose his life and his partner, Special Agent Victor Avila, to sustain critical
wounds. The decision of the appellate court to vacate the defendant’s
convictions created a circuit split, and opened a dangerous loophole in federal
law that placed all federal law enforcement and other governmental personnel
stationed overseas at risk. We applaud Senate actions to rectify this gap in
federal law and protect our overseas personnel. We urge the House to act
swiftly to pass this legislation and send it to President Biden to be signed
into law,” Cosme concluded.
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Read the Statement in its Entirety