Cornyn, Vela, McCaul, Carter Press Border Patrol to Honor Slain Agent and Help Ensure Benefits for Family
WASHINGTON – Today U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), U.S. Representative Filemon Vela (TX-34), U.S. Representative Michael McCaul (TX-10) and U.S. Representative John Carter (TX-31) sent a letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske urging him to classify the 2014 death of Border Patrol Agent Javier Vega Jr. as a line of duty fatality and help to make sure that his family receives the corresponding benefits afforded public safety officers who are killed in the line of duty. Agent Vega was fishing in Raymondville, Texas when he was murdered while protecting his family from two individuals suspected of ties to transnational organized crime. Classifying Agent Vega’s death as a line of duty fatality is appropriate because he was responding to a clear violation of law, and it would allow his family to obtain survivor benefits earned through service to his country.
“Despite Agent Vega’s courageous actions, your Office has failed to honor Agent Vega’s death as a line of duty fatality,” wrote Senator Cornyn and Reps. Vela, McCaul and Carter. “The Justice Department contends that this delay has been the result of failures by your Office to provide additional information on the case.”
“Agent Vega gave his life to protect his family and this country over two years ago,” they continued.“Your failure to recognize his sacrifice among other fallen officers and delay in responding to the needs of his family dishonors his sacrifice and his service. We ask that you swiftly honor Agent Vega and his family by officially and publicly recognizing his death as a line of duty fatality.”