Illegal Immigration "Amber Alert Edition": Lack of proper screening a factor in the kidnap and endangerment of 5-year old now believed to be in Mexico

9/2/2014

Amber Alert are dropped once immigrants cross into Mexico with their kidnap victims

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ˌsīəˈnärə/

exclamation

USinformal

1. goodbye.

Missing 5-year-old girl believed to be in danger in Mexico

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While the Amber Alert has been called off, 5-year-old Yarel Flores remains missing and is believe to be in danger.

Brownsville police confirmed the child was taken by her father, Miguel Angel Flores, who crossed her into Mexico hours before that alert was ever issued.

The car driven by Flores was spotted heading into Mexico Saturday about two hours after Brownsville police said Flores fought with 5 year old’s mother and took the girl.

Witnesses said the man chocked the woman as she screamed for help.

Flores was armed with a knife when officers said he drove off with the girl, which prompted the amber alert.

While the child and suspect have not been found, the alert has been cancelled.

“Ultimately cancelled because the investigation revealed that this individual or the vehicle he was driving was over in Mexico," said Brownsville Investigator J.J. Trevino.

This is concerning for state representative Eddie Lucio, who said the Amber Alert system is a great tool for law enforcement to locate missing children.

However, there is a lengthy criteria that must be met before an alert is issued. Rio Grande Valley's geographical location is only adds to the complication.

"We live in a region and its proximity to Mexico as the case on this particular circumstance creates a little more complication or a little dynamic that we need to address," said Lucio.

He's hoping that a new Regional Alert system tailored specifically to local community needs, will do just that. 

Lucio said specifics on how the new system will operate are currently being discussed, but he hopes it will be up and running soon to help in troubling situations such as these.

"Having structure, having rules, having criteria is important part of the process, but what a regional alert system can do-just like my local regional based system is adapted for concerns at the local level and [so we can] respond immediately, hopefully," said Lucio.

Brownsville Police said Miguel Flores is wanted on three warrants two for aggravated sexual assault and one for kidnapping the mother.

However, investigators would not give us specific details on those charges. They also tell us that if the child or suspect crosses back over the border into the U.S. the amber alert will be reinstated.

Anyone with information is being asked to call crime stoppers 956-546-TIPS.

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