Stockman resolution sanctions Mexico over U.S. Marine’s arrest

6/2/2014

WASHINGTON -- Congressman Steve Stockman will introduce a resolution demanding President Barack Obama impose “harsh sanctions” on the Mexican government until they release U.S. Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi. 

“Mexico’s arrest and detention of Sgt. Tahmooressi is an unnecessary and inflammatory act.  It’s becoming clear the only way to bring Sgt. Tahmooressi home is for the U.S. government to threaten harsh sanctions,” said Stockman.

Sgt. Tahmooressi has been held in a Mexican prison on charges of violating Mexican gun laws since March 31. Sgt. Tahmooressi unintentionally took a wrong turn while driving in the United States near the Mexican border and accidentally entered the country with three firearms, legal in Texas but illegal in Mexico.

The text of the resolution follows:

A resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Government of Mexico should forthwith repatriate Sgt. Andrew Paul Tahmooressi from Mexican prison(s) and expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President of the United States should take actions to impose sanctions on Mexico until such time as Sgt. Tahmooressi is released. 

Whereas Sgt. Tahmooressi served with the U.S. Marine Corps for two tours of duty in Afghanistan earning a rare combat field promotion to Sergeant;

Whereas Sgt. Tahmooressi was driving near the U.S.-Mexican border on March 31, 2014 when he took a wrong turn and unintentionally drove into Mexico.  He was stopped by police in Mexico and arrested for possessing three firearms which were fully legal in Texas and were registered to him; 

Whereas, Sgt. Tahmooressi has a distinguished record in the U.S. Marine Corps and there is no indication that Sgt. Tahmooressi was in violation of other laws in Mexico, except possession of his own firearms;

Now, therefore, be it resolved that it is the sense of the House of Representatives that

(1.)       the Government of Mexico should expeditiously release and repatriate Sgt. Tahmooressi and all possessions that have been seized;  and

(2.)       the President of the United States should communicate with the Government of Mexico that he will impose increasingly harsh sanctions on Mexico until such time as Sgt. Tahmooressi is released.

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