Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila Federal Officers and Employees Protection Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 921) to amend title 18, United States Code, to further protect officers and employees of the United States, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 921, the Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila Federal Officers and Employees Protection Act. This Senate-passed bill would correct a manifest wrong by making clear that the law prohibiting the killing of Federal employees extends beyond American borders.

Our Justice Department must have the ability to ensure that anyone who kills or attempts to kill individuals serving our country outside the United States are brought to justice under current law.

The tragic circumstance that makes this bill necessary bears repeating. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agents Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila were assigned abroad to protect American interests. In early 2011, while traveling in a convoy near San Luis Potosi, Mexico, the American agents were attacked by agents of the Los Zetas drug cartel.

In the firefight, both Agents Zapata and Avila were shot. Tragically, Agent Zapata died from his wounds. A thorough investigation brought the perpetrators of this heinous act to the United States to stand to account for the acts, and they were convicted. Yet, justice remained unfulfilled.

In January 2020, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the murder conviction of two Los Zetas cartel members responsible for the murder of Agent Zapata and attempted murder of Agent Avila.

In doing so, the Court of Appeals found that the law we are amending today did not contain an adequate expression that it was intended to apply to crimes committed outside the United States.

Today, we correct this errant and apparently unfair judicial interpretation. This bill does not extend criminal laws or penalties, nor does it create a new crime, it merely clarifies Congress' original intent.

Because of this bill, the United States Government may prosecute anyone who killed or attempted to kill a Federal officer or employee, whether they be agents or diplomats, while they were performing their official duties outside of the United States. The rule of law will prevail.

Interestingly enough, since the killings in that tragic incident, we have seen a number of attacks against many of our outstanding Federal employees, diplomats, and others overseas. That is all this bill would do, but it is an important thing to do.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my fellow Texans, Mr. Cuellar and Mr. McCaul, for leading the House companion to this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation out of basic and endearing justice for all, and for the families of these men.

I rise in support of S. 921, the ``Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila Federal Officers and Employees Protection Act.'' This Senate-passed bill would correct a manifest wrong by making clear that the law prohibiting the killing of federal employees extends beyond American borders.

Our Justice Department must have the ability to ensure that anyone who kills or attempts to kill individuals serving our country outside the United States are brought to justice under current law.

The tragic circumstances that make this bill necessary bear repeating. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agents Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila were assigned abroad to protect American interests. In early 2011, while traveling in a convoy near San Luis Potosi, Mexico, the American agents were attacked by members of the Los Zetas drug cartel.

In the firefight, both Agents Zapata and Agent Avila were shot. Tragically Agent Zapata died from his wounds.

A thorough investigation brought the perpetrators of this heinous attack to the United States to stand to account for the acts, and they were convicted.

Yet, justice remained unfulfilled. In January 2020, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the murder convictions of two Los Zetas cartel members responsible for the murder of Agent Zapata and attempted murder of Agent Avila.

In doing so, the Court of Appeals found that the law we are amending today did not contain an adequate expression that it was intended to apply to crimes committed outside the United States.

Today, we correct this errant judicial interpretation.

This bill does not extend criminal laws or penalties. Nor does it create a new crime. It merely clarifies Congress's original intent.

Because of this bill, the United States government may prosecute anyone who killed or attempted to kill a federal officer or employee, whether they be agents or diplomats, while they were performing their official duties outside of the United States. The rule of law will prevail.

That is all this bill would do but it is an important thing to do.

I thank my fellow Texas Representatives Henry Cuellar and Michael McCaul for leading the House companion to this bill. And I urge my colleagues to support this legislation today.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar), the original sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation is necessary to ensure that Federal employees who are serving overseas can be protected by the American umbrella of justice.

We have seen since this tragic incident of those who were serving our country and lost their life and were injured. We have seen a myriad of attacks on diplomats and others outside of the boundaries of war. We have been stunned by actions against diplomats in embassies and outside of embassies.

So this is a bipartisan bill that was adopted by the Senate by unanimous consent, and I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation so the President can sign it into law and to be able to tell all of our Federal employees and diplomats who are standing in the name of that flag that is shown behind you, Mr. Speaker, that we do care about their service and their safety.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation is necessary to ensure that federal employees who are serving overseas can be protected by the American umbrella of justice.

This is a bipartisan bill that was adopted by the Senate by unanimous consent.

I ask that my colleagues join me in supporting this legislation so that the President can sign it into law.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Representative Jackson Lee for her leadership in this effort to make sure that we protect not only other diplomats, but our agents that work overseas. I also want to thank Mr. Michael McCaul, one of my co-leads on this, Mr. Bill Pascrell, Mr. Filemon Vela, and other Members, all bipartisan, that support this.

On the Senate side, the lead sponsors were Senator John Cornyn and also Senator Chris Coons, and a whole bunch of other folks. I certainly want to say thank you so much.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation is important because this is a bipartisan bill, and it ensures that individuals who harm or attempt to harm U.S. Federal officers or employees serving abroad can be brought to justice and prosecuted in the United States.

Furthermore, this bill will improve the safety and the security of not only the agents but any diplomat or any Federal employee that works outside the U.S. or overseas by ensuring that crimes that are committed against Americans serving abroad can be prosecuted by United States courts.

As the chairwoman mentioned a few minutes ago, it was very unfortunate what happened, and it is a change on the--we want to make sure that the intent of the law that has been there will be followed, and that basically just means that that section 1114 of the United States Code would say that it also covers foreign jurisdiction. So, therefore, we ask that we support this legislation because as it was mentioned, on February 15, 2011, ICE Special Agent Jaime Zapata and also his colleague, Victor Avila, were ambushed by members of the Mexican drug cartels in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

Unfortunately, as it has been mentioned, Special Agent Zapata died because of his injuries. ICE Special Agent Jaime Zapata's murderer cannot be brought to justice because of that loophole in the current law, and this bipartisan legislation will close that loophole and ensure that the safety of all Federal employees serving our Nation abroad will be protected.

There must be severe consequences brought to bear against any individual who harms any of the Federal employees who are serving abroad. We need to know that the heroism of Special Agent Zapata and also Special Agent Avila, by holding those people who committed violence, are held accountable.

Furthermore, this issue and this bill is also important to me because Special Agent Zapata was assigned to the Homeland Security Investigations Office located in my hometown, Laredo, Texas, while he served on the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Unit as well as the Border Enforcement Security Task Force known as BEST.

So, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is about accountability. It is about leaving no American behind. The safety of our Nation depends on our heroes who are willing to raise their hands and put their own lives on the line regardless of if they are at home or abroad.

Tragically, a current loophole in Federal law has allowed the killers of Jaime Zapata, a Texan and American hero, to escape the murder convictions and sentences that they were found guilty for, and justice must be served.

In 2011, as you heard the details already, Mr. Speaker, let's reiterate the two ICE agents, Jaime Zapata as well as Victor Avila, were deployed to Mexico to curb human and drug trafficking at our southern border. The two were ambushed and gunned down by members of a Mexican drug cartel who opened fire on them along Highway 57. Both agents were struck, and Jaime Zapata tragically died from his injuries.

Weeks after the ambush, seven of these killers were extradited to the United States, and two were found guilty of murder. But last year, a Federal appeals court dismissed the murder convictions on the basis that the district court did not have jurisdiction over the crimes that were committed against those law enforcement agents who were stationed outside of our borders.

This is unacceptable, as has been mentioned. Anyone who attacks a U.S. Federal agent who is protecting our country, whether at home or abroad, must be held accountable and must be brought to justice.

I am proud to support this legislation to work with my colleagues across the aisle, and I am proud of the bipartisanship that Ms. Jackson Lee, Mr. Cuellar, and so many others have brought forward today. It is very important. Again, this goes to the heart of accountability, and it goes to the heart of leaving no American behind.

I appreciate also the leadership of Senators John Cornyn and Chris Coons on this very important initiative. Our country's heroes deserve to know that those of us in Congress in a bipartisan way will hold those to account who break the law. It is so important for us to stand by law enforcement, especially those who are willing to give their all outside of our borders.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 921, the Jamie Zapata and Victor Avila Federal Officers and Employees Protection Act.

In 2011, members of the Los Zetas drug cartel gunned down ICE Agents Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila in an attempted carjacking. Agent Zapata was killed.

The perpetrators of this terrible crime were members of the Los Zetas hit squad on a mission that day to shoot and steal vehicles for cartel operations.

The murder and attempted carjacking occurred in Mexico. So the perpetrators were extradited to the United States to face trial for the murder and attempted murder of the American agents.

In 2017, the cartel members were convicted under section 1114 of title 18 of the United States Code, which prohibits the killing of an officer of the United States. They were sentenced to life in prison.

On appeal, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that because the crimes occurred on foreign soil, section 1114 did not apply.

In light of this ruling, Federal law enforcement officers and civil servants stationed overseas are made more vulnerable to attack. The decision created a circuit split and opened a loophole in Federal law reversing centuries of precedent that the law was intended to apply extraterritorially.

The bill simply codifies centuries of precedent and legal understanding by clarifying the extraterritorial application of three Federal statutes to protect our Federal law enforcement officers and other Federal officials. The bill passed the Senate by unanimous consent in May.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger).

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 61, S. 921.

Madam President, I further ask that the committee- reported substitute amendment be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.