Mexican Kidnap Victim/Chairman Reyes

Washington, DC – Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff asking for an investigation into Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s (ICE) recent efforts in procuring the release of a Mexican woman kidnapped in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

Earlier this week, a sensitive memo prepared by Donald Bruckschen in ICE Office of International Affairs to ICE Assistant Secretary Julie Myers was leaked, detailing ICE’s role in the matter. On June 19, 2008, ICE was contacted by an aide to Cong. Silvestre Reyes (D-TX), chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence for assistance in procuring the release of Erika Posselt, a relative of his wife who had been kidnapped from an auto glass store she owned in Mexico.

ICE officials contacted Mexican authorities to coordinate efforts to recover Ms. Posselt. ICE authorities met with Mexican authorities in El Paso to map out a strategy and Washington, D.C. officials offered technical assistance. On June 22nd, Ms. Posselt and another hostage were released. Ms. Posselt was transported to the United States.


http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/32093/print

Congressman Silvestre Reyes, whose office called U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for assistance in rescuing a Mexican citizen kidnapped in Mexico, has issued a statement concerning the incident -- which was first reported by Narco News.

The initial Narco News report indicated that the kidnapping victim was Reyes' sister-in-law. A subsequent report by Narco News, based on a leaked ICE document, indicated that the victim, Erika Posselt, was Congressman Reyes' "relative," but was silent on the precise nature of the relationship.

In a report today by the El Paso Times' Diana Washington Valdez, Posselt is identified as the "niece" of Reyes' wife.

"Reyes said he learned of Posselt's kidnapping when his sister-in-law called them to see if Reyes' office could do anything to help," Washington Valdez reported.

http://narcosphere.narconews.com/notebook/bill-conroy/2008/06/congressman-defends-ices-rescue-mexican-citizen-kidnapped-juarez