The Zapata Times 6/20/2018

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Lawsuit claims police brutality Man tazed by deputy during traffic stop

By Maria Gardner ZAPATA TIME S

Courtesy photo

From left to right are, bottom row: Jennifer Rios, Rio Grande HS; Cristy Lopez, Hebbronville HS; Perla Grimaldo, Roma HS; Allyson Rangel, Freer HS; top row: Javier A. Ramirez, IBC Zapata Bank Officer; Gregoria Andrade, Zapata HS; Sydney Munoz, Alice HS; Andrew Rodriguez, San Isidro HS; Ricardo Ramirez, IBC Zapata President/CEO.

‘DO MORE’ REWARD Area students given A.R. Sanchez scholarships S P ECIAL TO THE TI ME S

IBC Bank-Zapata continues their support of higher education by awarding area students with the A.R. Sanchez Sr. Memorial Scholarship as they venture into college and start a new chapter of their lives. Scholarships are granted to students who demonstrated a “Do More" attitude and leadership in student and community affairs throughout their years in high school.

An event was held at IBC BankZapata where $13,000 in scholarships were handed out to deserving students from 11 high schools.

“The students who were selected to receive the scholarship award are examples of IBC Bank’s ‘We Do More’ philosophy,” said IBC Bank Vice President of corporate marketing Margarita Flores. “We are extremely honored to assist in the

pursuit of their higher education goals.”

Born into a humble family, Antonio R. Sanchez, Sr., the namesake of the scholarship award, was a strong supporter of making higher education available to those interested in bettering their lives. Sanchez’s commitment to the power of learning lives on in the A.R. Sanchez, Sr. Memorial Scholarship Award, which is bestowed annually on deserving high school seniors in South Texas and Oklahoma.

“It gives me great joy to see the expression on the faces of the students and their parents as we hand them a check for $1,000, which they will use to defray the costs of going to college,” said Ricardo Ramirez, president and CEO of IBC BankZapata. “We love giving back to our community and know the awards are appreciated.”

Scholarship award recipients

include: 1 Alberto Gonzalez, Zapata High School 1 Genesis Villarreal, Zapata High School 1 Gregorio Andrade, Zapata High School 1 Jermayne Miller, AC Jones High School 1 Sydney Munoz, Alice High School 1 Allyson Rangel, Freer High School 1 Cristy Lopez, Hebbronville High School 1 Samantha Arredondo, Kingsville High School 1 Paola M Ibarra, La Grulla High School 1 Jennifer Rios, Rio Grande High School 1 Perla Grimaldo, Roma High School 1 Andrew Rodriguez, San Isidro High School 1 Milexia Garcia, Santa Getrudis Academy High School

Complaints of police brutality and constitutional rights violations have been filed against Zapata County officials.

Zapata resident Juan Carlos Salazar said he was unjustly tazed for about 20 seconds by a sheriff’s deputy as he was lying face down on the ground with his hands placed over his head during a traffic stop, according to allegations contained in an amended lawsuit filed May 31 in a Laredo federal court.

The lawsuit claims that what occurred to Salazar is not an isolated incident but a routine practice of brutality by Zapata County law enforcement officials.

About two months after the incident, a sheriff’s deputy and former Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez visited Salazar at his home to tell him that what he faced was excessive force, according to the lawsuit. They also informed him that he was not alone in facing brutality at the hands of Zapata County Sheriff’s Office and Regional Jail employees, the lawsuit states.

Gonzalez said there at least four other incidents that have occurred since the election of Alonzo Lopez as Zapata County sheriff in 2012, according to the lawsuit.

The petition claims that Lopez and Chief Deputy Raymundo Del Bosque Jr. “failed to enforce pre-existing policy to discipline the use of excessive force, adequately train officers on the use of such force, and/or respond to complaints of such force.”

“With deliberate indifference to the rights of citizens to be free from excessive force by police, Defendants Zapata County, Alonso Lopez, and Del Bosque have ongoingly encouraged, tolerated, ratified, and acquiesced to a dangerous environment of police brutality,” the lawsuit states.

Salazar is seeking punitive damages, such as harm to his mental and physical health.

He is also seeking injunctive relief, a court order that would require the county to implement policies and protocol in order to prevent Lawsuit continues on A14

BORDER REGION BHC

Suicide prevention One mile walk/run set for Saturday from 8:30 to 10 a.m. workshop on June 28 HEALTHY SOUTH TEXAS ZAPATA COUNTY

By Maria Gardner ZA PATA T I ME S

This Saturday, individuals and groups will begin counting down their miles for their health and wellbeing.

To encourage exercise, Healthy South Texas will be hosting a walk/ run in Zapata.

The 1 mile fun run/walk and expo will happen from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Saturday at the Zapata County Plaza, 606 U.S. 83.

The launch of the Walk Across Texas! kickoff marks the beginning of an eight-week exercise and health program. The goal is to have walked or run individually or as a group 832 miles, the distance from El Paso to

Houston, said Samuel Vera, Healthy South Texas nutrition educator.

The event is organized by Healthy South Texas Zapata County, which is part of the Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension Service Folks can register for the free program and track their progress online at walkacrosstexas.tamu.edu.

Saturday’s route will head north on U.S. 83 then head back once participants have reached Highway 16, which will mark exactly 1 mile.

Zapata County sheriff’s deputies will be on hand to secure the participants’ path.

Other activities that will be held at the event include exercise bingo and a free Zumba session from local instructor Minerva Cortez.

Dentaquest, dental insurance services, and Border Region Behavioral Health Center will be at the event with information about their programs.

One of the reasons this event is important in Zapata County, Vera said, is because of the high rate of obesity and diabetes.

Thirty-five percent of Zapata County residents are in poor or fair health in comparison to the state average of 18 percent.

With exercise a key part to a healthy lifestyle, Vera said, “the event is a way to motivate people to be more physically active.”

For more information about Healthy South Texas Zapata, visit zapata.agrilife.org.

SPECIAL TO THE TIME S

Border Region Behavioral Health Center will be hosting a suicide prevention workshop on June 28 at 2:30 p.m. at Border Region Behavioral Health Center’s auditorium.

The center is located at 1500 Pappas St. in Laredo.

This workshop is designed to provide information that will help identify the signs and symptoms associated with suicide risk, distinguish between suicide and self-injury, understand the importance of self-care, and identify suicide prevention resources within our community.

Border Region Behavioral Health Center is Suicide continues on A12

In Brief A2 | Wednesday, June 20, 2018 | THE ZAPATA TIMES

CALENDAR

AROUND THE NATION

TODAY IN HISTORY

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20

A S S O C I AT E D P R E S S

First United Methodist Church Used Book Sale. 1220 McClelland Ave. 10 a.m. to noon. Hard cover $1, paperbacks $0.50, magazines and children’s books $0.25. Public is invited. Proceeds are used to support the church’s missions.

Domestic Violence Coalition Meeting. 12 p.m. 1700 East Saunders.

Tower B, 1st floor. The Webb County Domestic Violence Coalition holds its monthly meeting. The luncheon is open to those interested in learning more about resources available to help victims and their children who find themselves in dangerous situations. For more information, call Sister Rosemary Welsh at 956-7186810.

Joint Replacement Surgery Seminar. 6 p.m. Learn more about this innovative program, offered by the Laredo Bone and Joint Center at Laredo Medical Center. To reserve a space, call 956-796-3009 or 7963223.

Weight Loss Surgery Seminar. 6:30 p.m. Learn more about this innovative program, offered by the Laredo Bone and Joint Center at Laredo Medical Center. To reserve a space, call 956-796-3223.

Monthly walk: Un paso más de fe.

6 p.m.-7 p.m. North Central Park.

Performing physical activity regularly helps keep oneself encouraged, reduces stress levels, controls depression and anxiety, and strengthens self-esteem. If you suffer from depression and/ or anxiety we invite you to come out every third Wednesday of every month. Contact information: Anna Maria Pulido Saldivar, gruporayitodeluz@gmail.com, 956-307-2014.

THURSDAY, JUNE 21 Tiny Toes Prenatal Class – Spanish.

6-7:30 p.m. 1700 East Saunders.

Tower B, 1st floor. This class gives mothers-to-be the most important information to help them deliver a healthy, full-term baby from the start of labor until birth. To reserve a space, call 956-796-4019 or visit www.laredomedical.com/tiny-toes.

Cancer Friends Meet. 6 p.m. Laredo Medical Center, 1700 East Saunders, Tower A, 1st floor. The Laredo Cancer Society, in partnership with Laredo Medical Center, holds its monthly meeting for cancer patients and their families. For more information, call 956-796-4725.

Celiac Support Group Meeting. 7:15 p.m. Laredo Medical Center, 1700 East Saunders, Tower B, 1st floor. The Laredo Chapter of the Celiac Disease Foundation invites the community to attend. For more information, email laredo@celiac.org.

THURSDAY, JUNE 28 Suicide Prevention Workshop. 2:30 p.m. Border Region Behavioral Health Center. 1500 Pappas Street. This workshop is designed to provide information that will help identify the signs and symptoms associated with suicide risk, distinguish between suicide and self-injury, understand the importance of self-care, and identify suicide prevention resources within our community.

SATURDAY, JUNE 30 Sunny and the Sunliners. 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. L.I.F.E. Down pavilion. For information call 480-5843.

TUESDAY, JUNE 26 Tiny Toes Virtual Tour – Spanish. 11 a.m.-12 p.m. 1700 East Saunders.

Tower B, 1st floor. The virtual tour gives mothers-to-be detailed information about what to expect upon arrival and during their stay at Laredo Medical Center. To reserve a space, call 956-796-4019 or visit www.laredomedical.com/tiny-toes.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27 First United Methodist Church Used Book Sale. 1220 McClelland Ave. 10 a.m. to noon. Hard cover $1, paperbacks $0.50, magazines and children’s books $0.25. Public is invited. Proceeds are used to support the church’s missions.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4 First United Methodist Church Used Book Sale. 1220 McClelland Ave. 10 a.m. to noon. Hard cover $1, paperbacks $0.50, magazines and children’s books $0.25. Public is invited. Proceeds are used to support the church’s missions.

SATURDAY, JULY 7 First United Methodist Church Used Book Sale. 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

1220 McClelland Ave. Hard cover $1, paperback $0.50, magazines and children’s books, $0.25. Public is invited. Proceeds are used to support the church’s missions.

MONDAY, JULY 9 AHEC Summer Biomedical Enrichment Program. 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. UT Health Regional Campus Laredo, 1937 Bustamante St. A three-day workshop for high school students to explore opportunities in health care professions. To register: https:// summerbio2018.eventbrite.com.

First United Methodist Church Vacation Bible School Raging River Rampage. 9 am – 1 pm. 1220 McClelland Ave. Church’s Fellowship Hall. Bible stories, singing, dancing and crafts. Refreshments will be served. For children in kindergarden through sixth grade.

CBP / AFP/Getty Images

This photo shows the intake of illegal border crossers by US Border Patrol agents at the Central Processing Center in McAllen, Texas.

TRUMP DIGS IN DESPITE OUTRAGE WASHINGTON — An unapologetic President Donald Trump defended his administration’s border-protection policies Monday in the face of rising national outrage over the forced separation of migrant children from their parents. Calling for tough action against illegal immigration, Trump declared the U.S. “will not be a migrant camp” on his watch.

Images of children held in fenced cages fueled a growing chorus of condemnation from both political parties, four former first ladies and national evangelical leaders. The children are being held separate-

First ladies speak out on separations at the US border NEW YORK — All four former first ladies have joined the current one, Melania Trump, in an unusual united political front expressing horror at children separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border.

As Michelle Obama put it on Twitter, in support of Laura Bush: “Sometimes truth transcends party.”

ly from parents who are being prosecuted under the administration’s “zero-tolerance” policy for illegal border crossings.

“I say it’s very strongly the Democrats’ fault,” Trump said Monday as his administration rejected criticism that the policy has resulted in inhuman and immoral conditions.

Trump pointed to more lenient policies under past administrations that had not charged all migrants who had crossed illegally. Nearly 2,000 children were separated from their families over a six-week period. — Compiled from AP reports

Mrs. Obama, a Democrat, wrote those words as she retweeted Mrs. Bush, a Republican, who first spoke out in an opinion piece Sunday in The Washington Post.

“I live in a border state. I appreciate the need to enforce and protect our international boundaries, but this zero-tolerance policy is cruel. It is immoral. And it breaks my heart,” Mrs. Bush said on Twitter. Hillary Clinton said the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy that has separated children and parents at

the southern border was a “moral and humanitarian crisis.”

Their outrage and call for reforms come after nearly 2,000 minors were separated from adults in the six weeks following Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ announcement of the zero-tolerance approach to illegal border crossings.

In perhaps the most surprising response from a first lady, a statement from Mrs. Trump’s said she “hates” to see families separated at the border. — Compiled from AP reports

AROUND THE WORLD Over 1 billion small arms in world, up from 2007 UNITED NATIONS — There are over 1 billion firearms in the world today, including 857 million in civilian hands — with American men and women the dominant owners, according to a study released Monday.

The Small Arms Survey says 393 million of the civilian-held firearms, 46 percent, are in the United States, which is “more than those held by civilians in the other top 25 countries combined.”

“The key to the United States, of course, is its unique gun culture,” the report’s author, Aaron Karp, said at a news conference. “American civilians buy an average of 14 million new firearms every year, and that means the United States is an overwhelming presence on civilian markets.”

The report said the numbers

John Locher / AP

Handguns are displayed at a trade show. A new study estimates there are over 1 billion firearms in the world today.

include legal and illegal firearms in civilian hands, ranging from improvised craft weapons to factory-made handguns, rifles, shotguns and, in some countries, even machine guns.

The estimate of over 1 billion firearms worldwide at the end of 2017 also includes 133 million such weapons held by government military forces and 22.7

million by law enforcement agencies, it said.

Karp said the new global estimate is significantly higher than the 875 million firearms estimated in the last survey in 2007, and the 650 million civilian-held firearms at that time — mostly due to increasing civilian ownership. — Compiled from AP reports

AROUND THE STATE Deputy arrested on allegation of child sexual assault SAN ANTONIO — A sheriff’s deputy in South Texas is accused of sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl and threatening the child’s mother with deportation if she reported him, authorities said.

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said Sunday that investigators arrested 47-year-old Jose Nunez on suspicion of

super aggravated sexual assault of a child, pending formal charges.

“The details of the case are quite frankly heartbreaking, disturbing, disgusting and infuriating all at the same time,” Salazar said.

The sheriff said the assaults may have been going on for months, possibly years, and that there could be other victims. Nunez, a 10-year veteran of the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office who worked at the county jail, was being held at the

Today is Wednesday, June 20, the 171st day of 2018. There are 194 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History: On June 20, 1893, a jury in New Bedford, Massachusetts, found Lizzie Borden not guilty of the ax murders of her father and stepmother.

On this date: In 1782, Congress approved the Great Seal of the United States, featuring the emblem of the bald eagle.

In 1863, West Virginia became the 35th state.

In 1921, U.S. Rep. Alice Mary Robertson, R-Okla., became the first woman to preside over a session of the House of Representatives.

In 1943, race-related rioting erupted in Detroit; federal troops were sent in two days later to quell the violence that resulted in more than 30 deaths.

In 1948, the variety series "Toast of the Town," hosted by Ed Sullivan (for whom the show was later renamed), debuted on CBS television.

In 1967, boxer Muhammad Ali was convicted in Houston of violating Selective Service laws by refusing to be drafted and was sentenced to five years in prison. (Ali's conviction was ultimately overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court).

In 1977, the first oil began flowing through the recently completed Trans-Alaska Pipeline from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez.

In 1988, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously upheld a New York City law making it illegal for private clubs with more than 400 members to exclude women and minorities.

In 1990, South African black nationalist Nelson Mandela and his wife, Winnie, arrived in New York City for a ticker-tape parade in their honor as they began an eight-city U.S. tour.

Ten years ago: Lightning began sparking more than 2,000 fires across northern and central California, eventually burning over a million acres. Model Naomi Campbell was sentenced in London to 200 hours of community service and fined 2,300 pounds ($4,600) after she pleaded guilty to kicking, spitting and swearing at two police officers during an argument over lost luggage while aboard a plane at Heathrow Airport.

Five years ago: In a telephone interview with The Associated Press, the Taliban proposed a deal in which they would free U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, held since 2009, in exchange for five of their most senior operatives at Guantanamo Bay. (The exchange took place, with Bergdahl being handed over on May 31, 2014.)

The Food and Drug Administration approved unrestricted sales of the morning-after pill, lifting all age limits on the emergency contraceptive. The Miami Heat repeated as champions with a 95-88 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

One year ago: A runoff election between Republican Karen Handel and Democrat Jon Ossoff was held in Georgia's 6th Congressional District; Handel was declared the winner with 52 percent of the vote to Ossoff's 48.

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick resigned under pressure from investors and Uber's board. Rapper Prodigy, a member of the hardcore New York hip-hop duo Mobb Deep, died in Las Vegas at age 42.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Bonnie Bartlett is 89. Actress Olympia Dukakis is 87. Actor James Tolkan is 87.

Actor Danny Aiello is 85. Blues musician Lazy Lester is 85. Movie director Stephen Frears is 77. Singersongwriter Brian Wilson is 76. Actor John McCook is 74. Singer Anne Murray is 73. TV personality Bob Vila is 72. Musician Andre Watts is 72.

Actress Candy Clark is 71. Producer Tina Sinatra is 70. Rhythm and blues singer Lionel Richie is 69. Actor John Goodman is 66. Rock musician Michael Anthony is 64. Pop musician John Taylor is 58. Rock musician Mark degli Antoni (de-GLI'-an-toh-nee) is 56. Christian rock musician Jerome Fontamillas (Switchfoot) is 51. Rock musician Murphy Karges (Sugar Ray) is 51. Actress Nicole Kidman is 51.

Country/bluegrass singer-musician Dan Tyminski is 51. Movie director Robert Rodriguez is 50. Actor Peter Paige is 49. Actor Josh Lucas is 47.

Rock musician Jeordie White (AKA Twiggy Ramirez) is 47. Rock singer Chino Moreno (Deftones) is 45.

Country-folk singer-songwriter Amos Lee is 41. Country singer Chuck Wicks is 39. Actress Tika Sumpter is 38.

Country musician Chris Thompson (The Eli Young Band) is 38. Actresssinger Alisan Porter is 37. Christian rock musician Chris Dudley (Underoath) is 35. Rock singer Grace Potter is 35. Actor Mark Saul is 33.

Thought for Today : "A man's errors are his portals of discovery." — James Joyce, Irish poet (1882-1941).

CONTACT US facility Monday on a $75,000 bond, according to the jail. He was arrested while off duty and is on paid leave.

A phone message to Nunez’s attorney was not immediately returned. Nunez was due in court Monday. Authorities were notified of the alleged abuse when the child “made an outcry” and her mother, from Guatemala, took the girl to a fire station to make a report.

The sheriff said they believe Nunez is related to the victim.

— Compiled from AP reports

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The Zapata Times

THE ZAPATA TIMES | Wednesday, June 20, 2018 |

A3

LOCAL

Better Hearing Open House June 19th, 20th & 21st All who attend this event will receive the following, FREE:

Danny Zaragoza / Laredo Morning Times

U.S. Magistrate Judge John A. Kazen is sworn in by U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña as his father, George Kazen, holds the Bible on Monday at the federal courthouse in Laredo. George Kazen recently retired as senior U.S. district judge.

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Judge J. Kazen sworn in

By Joana Santillana LA R ED O MORNI NG T IME S

A prestigious local attorney has now joined the ranks of Laredo federal judges, continuing a family tradition that includes many scholars of the law.

U.S. Magistrate Judge John Andrew Kazen was sworn in on Monday. His appointment to the Laredo division of the Southern District of Texas comes after U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker transferred to the McAllen division of the district at the beginning of the year.

The ceremony brought together many members of the Kazen family, including John Kazen’s father, former Senior U.S. District Judge George P. Kazen, who served in the Laredo federal courthouse for 39 years before he retired in March.

Before donning his robe and taking the bench with his colleagues, Kazen addressed the courtroom, thanking U.S. district judges Diana Saldaña and Marina Garcia Marmolejo for their recommendation for the

position.

“The Laredo division of the Southern District of Texas is known for its efficiency and its innovation,” Kazen said. “This courthouse has a reputation for that and I am looking forward to being able to contribute to that to the best of my ability and to work on the fair and efficient administration of justice.”

He also thanked his biggest role model, his father, and his wife for always supporting him.

Kazen’s journey to become a judge was not planned, Saldaña said.

Although it was difficult to see Judge George Kazen retire, his decision opened up this opportunity for his son, since family members can’t sit in the same court.

“We have gained yet another Kazen in this courthouse,” she told a packed courtroom.

Saldaña said Kazen has the perfect judicial temperament they would want in a judge.

She talked about the process to appoint a new magistrate judge. She said Kazen was one of 24 applicants vying for the

position. He was chosen by a merit-based selection panel, a committee comprised of well-respected lawyers and a couple of lay people.

After reviewing the applications and conducting interviews, the panel makes a recommendation to the court, according to Saldaña. She said Kazen was ranked as the first choice by the panel. All of the judges in the Southern District of Texas then voted and selected him as the new magistrate judge.

Since there is still a vacant magistrate judge position, Saldaña said Kazen is currently serving as her magistrate, but once that position is filled, he will be assigned to both district judges, mainly handling civil cases. She said his extensive background and knowledge of civil law will be put to good use.

Kazen will also perform other magistrate judge duties for criminal cases, such as initial appearances and misdemeanor pleas, but he will probably not have a felony criminal docket, Saldaña added.

Kazen continues on A12

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A4 | Wednesday, June 20, 2018 | THE ZAPATA TIMES

EDITORIAL

OTHER VIEWS

Texas GOP sidesteps children issue FO RT WORT H STAR-T E LE GRAM

Republican leaders, energizing the troops at their state convention this weekend, wildly applauded key issues they always embrace: preserving Second Amendment gun rights; anti-abortion efforts; lowering taxes; and publicly-funded school choice.

But they were shamefully silent as they tiptoed around the elephant in this elephant’s gathering which is threatening to bring media and child advocates from across the nation to Texas.

We’re talking about the Trump administration’s new policy of criminally charging immigrants who come across our southern border without authorization, then using that charge to justify separating the parents from their children.

Until recently, the immigrant adults were usually charged with civil violations which allowed them to be detained with their children while their cases were handled by the courts.

Now, children, reportedly as young as 18 months, have been forcibly taken from their parents. Their numbers are growing so quickly plans are being made to open large group detention centers, and to possibly house them in "airconditioned" tent cities in Texas.

Tent cities? Texas had those for convicted criminals in 1981 because of prison overcrowding.

Housing inmates in tents was controversial then.

So, why would it be OK for small children now?

We repeat what we’ve said: Separating immigrant children from their parents is inhumane and should end.

The American Psychological Association calls the policy "needless and cruel," and said the longer the children and parents are separated the more likely it is the children will develop "psychological distress, academic difficulties and disruptions in their development."

Our chief deal-maker, the president, is shamefully using children as a bargaining chip as he attempts to strong-arm Congress into delivering on his immigration priorities — a border wall and further restrictions on who can enter the United States legally.

It’s ridiculous to hear Trump blame Democrats as he did Friday when he tweeted: "The Democrats are forcing the breakup of families at the Border with their horrible and cruel legislative agenda."

When Republicans control the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives and the White House they get to take the blame or the credit for the immigration policies being enforced.

They own this issue.

The Republicans in Texas who control all branches of government here also own it if they don’t openly object and advocate for better solu-

tions.

We were hoping to hear our state’s Republican leaders reject the practice and promote other means of securing our borders. Are they unable to come up with better solutions? Are they afraid of disagreeing with the President and facing the wrath of his vengeful tweets?

When we asked Gov. Greg Abbott’s office and campaign if he supports the administration’s policy his office quoted from an interview Abbott recently gave to NBC5 in North Texas: "This is horrible and this rips everyone’s hearts apart about what is going on," Abbott said, adding he’d talked to Trump: "He said, listen if the Democrats would agree with him right now they could pass a law today that would end the ripping apart of these families and make the border secure." Again, aren’t the Republicans in control?

Sen. Ted Cruz told San Antonio radio station KSAT, "I would like to see an outcome where we endeavor to keep family units together — to keep mom and dad with their kids." But Cruz didn’t say he opposes what’s going on.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told America’s Newsroom host Bill Hemmer on Friday, "In terms of families, we want to keep families together, but that cannot be an excuse to break our laws."

Rep. Kay Granger, a Fort Worth Republican, didn’t respond to our queries.

We understand the need to control unlawful immigration and border crime. But separating these children from their parents will do nothing to stop the cross-border drug trade or crime and human trafficking. If anything this places children in greater jeopardy of being mistreated and abused.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, in the meantime, is reaching out to Republican leaders he won’t name, offering to house some of the children in Dallas County where around 2,000 were cared for in 2014 during the wave of unaccompanied immigrant minors.

Jenkins, a Democrat, told us service providers in Dallas County are willing to meet standards required to take care of the children and provide them with medical, psychological and educational services.

That’s better than tents.

Jenkins says he doesn’t want to make this a partisan issue, he just wants to provide "the most compassionate care possible."

When the Democrats meet for their state convention next week, however, the partisan difference will be obvious.

They won’t quietly sidestep this practice. They’ll loudly condemn it. And on this issue we think they’re right.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram at www.star-telegram.com.

COLUMN

Summit proves President Trump’s trust is foolish

By Trudy Rubin PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

"We have developed a very special bond," President Donald Trump said of Kim Jong Un at the end of the Singapore summit.

The effusive compliments Trump showered on Kim were endless: "He’s got a great personality. He’s a funny guy, a tough guy, he’s very smart, he’s a great negotiator. He loves his people.

"He trusts me and I trust him."

And thus was born the latest Trump bromance with a foreign strongman he wooed at a summit.

First there was Xi Jinping, now Kim, next, probably Vladimir Putin.

In Singapore, summitry made sense if it was meant to halt the rhetorical war between Trump and Kim and to advance the dismantling of North Korea’s nuclear program.

But the nauseating flattery Trump lavished on this mass murderer did little to promote those interests.

Instead, it displayed how Trump’s eager embrace of dictators plays into their hands.

"A personal relationship can lead to progress in formal negotiations, but it is a means to an end, not an end in itself," says the Heritage Foundation’s Bruce Klingner, a former senior intelligence analyst on Korea. Yet Trump’s fervent embrace of Kim became the leitmotif of the summit; the president seemed convinced that it would persuade the despot to "denuclearize."

How else to explain Trump’s repeated efforts to slough off one of the worst human-rights records on the planet. Kim’s father starved to death over a million people, while Kim executes oppo-

nents and maintains gulags containing 120,000 political prisoners. When asked by Fox News about Kim’s human-rights record, Trump answered dismissively: "A lot of people (elsewhere) have done bad things."

Asked if he had a message for the North Korean people, Trump told Voice of America: "I think you have somebody that has a great feeling for them. He wants to do right by them and we got along really well. We had a great chemistry."

Note how the president segued from whitewashing Kim to bragging about his own personal chemistry. No wonder Trump makes the astonishing claim that he trusts Kim. Yet the paltry results of the Singapore summit prove such trust is foolish.

"Yes, it was historic to have the two of them in a room," Klingner says.

"But this by itself didn’t achieve anything."

The summit was supposed, at the barest minimum, to produce a joint statement that committed North Korea to get rid of its nukes and long-range missiles - and to accept verification. Without this, there is no agreed basis for future negotiations.

Instead, the statement used old, boilerplate language - "commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" a phrase that is interpreted entirely differently by Pyongyang and Washington. This means the two sides don’t even have an agreed basis on which to begin talks.

The North Koreans insist the United States must withdraw its troops and nuclear protection from South Korea and Japan before Pyongyang begins to divest its weap-

ons. As for "complete" denuclearization, Klingner says: "They mean they will go down to zero as part of a global arms control regime when the U.S. goes down to zero."

It gets worse. Kim finagled Trump into accepting a concept that Pyongyang and Beijing have long demanded but U.S. officials firmly rejected only a few months ago.

Known as "freeze for freeze," it requires the U.S. to halt joint military exercises with South Korea in exchange for Pyongyang’s freezing missile and nuclear tests. This reduces Seoul’s defensive capacity without reducing North Korea’s arsenal, and without requiring the North to stop its own massive military exercises.

Trump announced in Singapore that he’d freeze the joint exercises, but Kim has made only an informal offer to freeze the tests. South Korea’s leading newspaper, Chosun Ilbo, editorialized, "Kim got everything he wanted."

"In Singapore we accepted our half of a bad deal with no codification of the North Korean freeze in exchange," says Klingner, who has watched North Korea renege on several previous deals.

"You have to have it on paper; otherwise they will say they are not bound."

We’ll see where U.S.North Korean talks go.

But Trump’s conviction that he can rely on personal chemistry and Kim’s good intentions is foolish.

Despite the presidential tweet that "There is no longer a Nuclear threat from North Korea," Kim still retains his arsenal. "’Intentions’ are an intangible," Klingner says.

"North Korea is an unchanged threat."

DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU

That reality isn’t likely to dissuade Trump from believing that summitry with despots will reap huge rewards. He wined and dined Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Lago in hopes that Xi would solve the North Korea conundrum and reduce the trade deficit.

No results yet. The trade gap with China remains unresolved, while Trump has made big trade concessions to Beijing in the vain hope that the Chinese would deliver North Korea. After tightening sanctions on Pyongyang, China has already announced they will loosen them after the Singapore summit.

Kim and Xi can only rejoice that the great American dealmaker is willing to give them so much for free.

Clearly, Putin has paid notice to Trump’s delusions. The Kremlin has made clear its eagerness to accept Trump’s offer of a summit. It’s easy to imagine what concessions Trump could make to Putin without even noticing.

The only leaders Trump appears unwilling to flatter are our longtime democratic allies — notably Canada, France, Germany, and Britain — which he treated so shabbily at the G-7 summit in Quebec this month. Who needs allies when Trump is so certain he can win over adversaries by bonding with strongmen?

Any progress with North Korea will require a big dose of realism and a determination to "distrust but verify." Unlikely, as long as Trump keeps fooling himself and his base.

Trudy Rubin is a Philadelphia Inquirer columnist.

THE ZAPATA TIMES | Wednesday, June 20, 2018 |

A5

Sports&Outdoors

A6 | Wednesday, June 20, 2018 | THE ZAPATA TIMES

INTERNATIONAL SOCCER: WORLD CUP

Saudi coach says players not rattled Saudi team’s plane landed with flames

By Derek Gatopoulos A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia — Saudi Arabia’s national team endured an engine malfunction on the flight to Rostov-on-Don. That’s not exactly the best preparation for a World Cup match against Uruguay.

The Saudis landed in the southern Russian city late Monday after flames were seen coming out of one of the engines. Team

officials refused to speak to reporters after the incident, but the country’s soccer association confirmed the episode and said all its players and staff were fine.

“The pictures speak for themselves and point to some kind of emergency,” Saudi Arabia coach Juan Antonio Pizzi said Tuesday. “But the players were all calm. It won’t affect our performance tomorrow.”

Saudi Arabia needs

points against Uruguay on Wednesday after a 5-0 loss to Russia in the opening match of the World Cup. Uruguay won its first match against Egypt 1-0.

“We are not happy with the way the first match went, but will trust in our ability to go out and win the next game,” Pizzi said.

The Saudis came to the World Cup after three coaching changes in the months leading up to the tournament, picking Pizzi for his attack-minded record as coach of Chile’s national team.

Pizzi refused to say whether he would field a more defensive lineup in

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION: MILWAUKEE BUCKS

the second match, but added he was seeking victory at all costs.

Against the Russians, Saudi Arabia fielded a Brazilian-looking 4-1-4-1 formation with forwardleaning midfielders surrounding center forward Mohammed Al-Sahlawi.

But they failed to produce a single shot on target.

Things won’t likely be any easier against Uruguay, a team with two of the best forwards in the game in Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani.

“We know who we are playing against,” Pizzi said. “We will have to match them for their quality and their energy.”

Khaled Desouki / AFP/Getty Images file

Flames were seen coming from the plane of Saudi Arabia's national team as it landed in a southern Russian city ahead of its World Cup match against Uruguay.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: DALLAS COWBOYS

Sterling Brown sues Milwaukee over arrest

By Ivan Moreno A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Bucks guard Sterling Brown sued the city of Milwaukee and its police department Tuesday, saying officers’ use of a stun gun during his arrest for a parking violation constitutes excessive force and that they targeted him because he is black.

Brown’s attorney Mark Thomsen filed the lawsuit in federal court, accusing police of “discriminating against Mr. Brown on the basis of his race.”

The lawsuit alleges officers involved in his arrest used their incident report to try to reframe what happened to give the impression Brown was resisted and obstructed them.

“Mr. Brown hopes that instead of the typical denial of the claims ... the city actually admit to the wrongs, admit that his constitutional rights were violated,” Thomsen said at a news conference outside City Hall after filing the lawsuit.

Brown had been talking with officers while waiting for a citation for illegally parking in a disabled spot outside a Walgreens at about 2 a.m. on Jan. 26, when officers took him down because he didn’t immediately remove his hands from his pockets as ordered. An officer yells: “Taser! Taser!

Taser!”

Brown never appeared to threaten police before or during his arrest, according to police body-camera videos.

Mayor Tom Barrett said in a statement he hopes something good comes from the lawsuit.

“I’m hopeful this incident will be a turning point and allow us to take those actions necessary to improve police community relations,” he said.

Police Chief Alfonso Morales has not responded to an Associated Press request for comment.

Morales apologized to Brown last month when body-camera video of the arrest was released.

Brown wasn’t charged with anything and three officers were disciplined, with suspensions ranging from two to 15 days.

Eight other officers were ordered to undergo remedial training in professional communications.

A group of officers discussing the arrest shortly after it happened talked about “trying to protect” themselves from possible backlash over their con-

frontation with an NBA player and synchronized “their stories concerning what took place in the parking Brown lot,” the lawsuit said.

Some of the details from their report made it into Morales’ written complaint about the officers’ actions, according to the lawsuit, with the chief saying Brown “refused to comply with a directive to remove his hands from his pockets and became resistive towards officers.”

One officer reacted to the arrest with glee, according to the lawsuit, which showed screenshots of him going on Twitter to mock Brown.

“Nice meeting Sterling Brown of the Milwaukee Bucks at work this morning! Lol(hash)FearTheDeer,” one tweet read, referencing a slogan used to cheer on the Bucks at games. That same officer posted a racist meme of Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant, according to a screenshot from the lawsuit.

Police have only released the body camera video of the first officer who contacted Brown.

But additional body camera and squad car videos showed the moments after officers used a stun gun on him. In one, Brown is on the ground and handcuffed when an officer puts one of his boots on Brown’s ankle, holding it there. Brown doesn’t mention being in any discomfort but he questions the officer’s actions.

“C’mon man, you’re stepping on my ankle for what?” Brown said. In response, the officer said he was trying to prevent Brown from kicking anyone.

Other videos showed an officer talking with two colleagues seating in a squad car.

They talked about how they could be perceived as racist for arresting a black Bucks player, with one saying if anything goes wrong, it “is going to be, ‘Ooh, the Milwaukee Police Department is all racist, blah, blah, blah.”’

Brown told the Journal Sentinel in an interview last month that he “gave in” when police used a stun gun and that he didn’t do anything to resist because he didn’t want officers to “pull out their guns.”

“I was just being smart. I just wanted to get out of the situation and get home,” he said.

Mike Siegel / TNS file

Safety Earl Thomas is currently in a contract hold out with the Seattle Seahawks. Thomas famously chased down Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett after Seattle’s game with Dallas last December.

THOMAS TO COWBOYS? Thomas is currently in a hold out with the Seahawks

By Kevin Sherrington THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS

Of all the great mysteries you may come across in your summer reading the next couple of months, the Curious Case of Earl Thomas won’t test your faculties much.

In Chapter 1, the great safety chases down the Cowboys’ head coach during the season and begs to be rescued. Chapter 2 finds the general manager failing to execute the plan during the draft.

Flustered by the Cowboys’ efforts, the hero holds out in Chapter 3, hoping to motivate his captors.

And in Chapter 4, the Cowboys, who’d created cap room with the release of a former cornerstone, make just enough through another deal to pay the ransom.

Frankly, if this story doesn’t end with Thomas roaming the Cowboys’ secondary, I don’t know my cheap novels.

From everything you hear and read, Jerry Jones might have to give Seattle a second-round pick to acquire Thomas’ services. Chances are the Cowboys are waiting for the price to come down. If it requires a second, done. Not to get too primitive here, but draft picks are valuable. This was a concept lost on the Cowboys during their long period wandering in the wilderness, and they’re just now digging themselves out by rediscovering their youth. Just the same, even a good plan rates an occa-

sional exception.

Let me remind you of what Earl Thomas brings to the table.

True, safeties have been marginalized in today’s game. A safety such as Roy Williams, a beast in his prime, is pretty much an anachronism now. But Thomas isn’t that type. He remains, even at 29, the best center fielder in football. He’s also been the spiritual leader of one of the greatest defenses in football. A probable Hall of Famer, if you go for that sort of thing.

The Cowboys could certainly use a player of his caliber. Rod Marinelli has a star at linebacker in Sean Lee and another in the making in DeMarcus Lawrence. A big-time defensive back would provide most of what this defense lacks to be a Super Bowl contender.

He’d also become the Yoda a young secondary needs. Imagine what Thomas might unlock for Byron Jones at cornerback.

Or what an inquisitive Xavier Woods could learn from one of the game’s great pros.

The last Cowboys safety who wielded such influence was Darren Woodson, which was so long ago even Woody probably doesn’t remember. Also reminds me: If safeties are so easy to come by, how come the Cowboys haven’t found one all these years?

Besides all the reasons above, let’s consider a few quick hitters.

In matters related to rosterbuilding, the Cowboys should

ask: What Would Howie Do? Howie Roseman practically re-invented the lost art of trading while building a Super Bowl roster in Philadelphia. If he were in Jerry’s shoes, he wouldn’t think twice about adding a piece as critical as this one.

For all of you Dez Bryant fans wondering why the Cowboys would give up on your favorite player and the No. 1 receiver, this is a pretty good excuse. Cutting Dez provided much of the cap space they needed.

Losing Dez isn’t so awful if it allows the Cowboys to add Thomas, is it?

And adding Thomas stops all the nonsense about bringing back Dez. Enough already.

Speaking of cap space, the Cowboys managed to make the NFL’s best guard, Zack Martin, the highest-paid guard while simultaneously saving $3 million on his cap hit this year.

Don’t ask me how they do this.

But this is what I always tried to tell my geometry teacher when she preached about the immutability of math.

The Cowboys have already prepped for Thomas’ coming by hiring his former secondary coach, Kris Richard. Not that it wouldn’t have worked out, anyway. But at least there’s no doubt about the fit.

Not only does Thomas make the Cowboys immensely better at free safety, he makes the competition at strong safety better between Woods and Jeff Heath while improving the depth.

THE ZAPATA TIMES | Wednesday, June 20, 2018 |

A7

LOCAL

LCC says over 1,000 students enrolled for dual college credit SPECIAL TO THE TIME S

Courtesy photo

Zapata South Elementary Students of the Week The Zapata South Elementary Students of the Week are: First row, Jayden Rodríguez, Carlos Guerrero, Angel Sánchez, Tomas Villarreal, Zoe Vasquez, Valentín Salinas, Yaretzi Salinas, and Carlos Villarreal. Second row, Laritza López, Margarita Gonzalez, Samantha Rodríguez, Keilah Serna, Ruben Sánchez, Christian Quiroga, and Omar Hernández. Third row: Joel Robles, Jenitza Treviño, Teddy Briseño, Jorge García, Juan Villarreal, and Adrian Serna. Fourth row: Anthony Perez, Juan Vidal, Roel Ibáñez, Dayanara Rodríguez, Cosme Salinas, and Kylie Ray.

Audio of children stokes rage over separation

By Nomaan Merchant and Anita Snow A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS

BROWNSVILLE — An audio recording that appears to capture the heartbreaking voices of small Spanish-speaking children crying out for their parents at a U.S. immigration facility took center stage in the growing uproar over the Trump administration’s policy of separating immigrant children from their parents.

“Papa! Papa!” one child is heard weeping in the audio file that was first reported Monday by the nonprofit ProPublica and later provided to The Associated Press.

Human rights attorney Jennifer Harbury said she received the tape from a whistleblower and told ProPublica it was recorded in the last week. She did not provide details about where exactly it was recorded.

Homeland Security

Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said she had not heard the audio but said children taken into custody by the government are being treated humanely.

She said the government has high standards for detention centers and the children are well cared for and stressed that Congress needs to plug loopholes in the law so families can stay together.

The audio surfaced as politicians and advocates flocked to the U.S.-Mexico border to visit U.S. immigration detention centers and turn up the pressure on the Trump administration. The president was to visit Capitol Hill on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the crisis with House Republicans.

And the backlash over the policy widened. The Mormon church said it is “deeply troubled” by the separation of families at the border and urged national leaders to find compassionate solutions.

Massachusetts Gov.

Charlie Baker, a Republican, reversed a decision to send a National Guard helicopter from his state to the Mexican border to assist in a deployment, citing the administration’s “cruel and inhumane” policy.

At the border, an estimated 80 people pleaded guilty Monday to immigration charges, including some who asked the judge questions such as “What’s going to happen to my daughter?” and “What will happen to my son?”

Attorneys at the hearings said the immigrants had brought two dozen boys and girls with them to the U.S., and the judge replied that he did not know what would happen to their children.

Several groups of lawmakers toured a nearby facility in Brownsville, Texas, that houses hundreds of immigrant children.

Democratic Rep. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico

said the location was a former hospital converted into living quarters for children, with rooms divided by age group.

There was even a small room for infants, complete with two high chairs, where two baby boys wore matching rugby style shirts with orange and white stripes.

Another group of lawmakers on Sunday visited an old warehouse in McAllen, Texas, where hundreds of children are being held in cages created by metal fencing. One cage held 20 youngsters.

More than 1,100 people were inside the large, dark facility, which is divided into separate wings for unaccompanied children, adults on their own, and mothers and fathers with children.

Laredo Community College said it is proud to announce that more than 1,312 students have enrolled for the 2018 summer session dual enrollment program.

In early 2000s, LCC joined forces with Laredo ISD to offer higher education to high school students through the dual enrollment program.

Over the next several years the partnerships were extended to other districts, such as United, Zapata County and Webb Consolidated independent school districts. San Augustine High School and Piedra Angular Academic Ministries, local private institutions, also joined.

The dual enrollment program offers eligible high school students an opportunity to earn an associate degree and up to 60 hours of college credit toward a bachelor’s degree as they complete their high school diploma.

LCC, in conjunction with Lyndon B. Johnson High School and Martin High School, offers students the opportunity to earn an associate degree through the early college program. Cigarroa High School is planning to launch their first early college program with LCC, where LISD will provide its third early college program through the college’s services.

In order to qualify, students must be in high

The dual enrollment program offers eligible high school students an opportunity to earn an associate degree and up to 60 hours of college credit. school and have the support of their parents, principal and counselor who can verify appropriate college-level courses or program pathways based on placement test scores by each district.

Students must satisfy the minimum standards under the provisions of the Texas Success Initiative or through waivers and exemptions allowed by the state. In addition, the student must meet all their district’s prerequisites and the college’s regular requirements designated for the dual enrollment course.

Through this program, students will gain confidence in their ability to complete college assignments and may have a smooth transition into post-secondary education. Furthermore, students and their families can save on college expenses to complete their education.

For more information, contact the dual enrollment program at 956-7944111 or 956-721-5472.

A8 | Wednesday, June 20, 2018 | THE ZAPATA TIMES

LOCAL

Courtesy photo

Texas High School Rodeo Finals Victoria Vela, of Zapata, placed fourth at the Texas High School Rodeo Finals in Abilene. Victoria will represent Texas at the nationals in Rock Springs, Wyoming on July 15-21.

Courtesy photo

Michael Cruz and Alejandro Gonzalez, of Zapata, placed fifth at the Texas High School Rodeo Finals in Abilene, Texas. Michael and Alejandro qualified as alternates for nationals.

THE ZAPATA TIMES | Wednesday, June 20, 2018 |

A9

BUSINESS

Builder optimism fades as trade war looms ASSOCIATED PRE SS

Charles Krupa / AP

A worker installs vinyl siding on a new home in Auburn, N.H. On Monday, the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo reported its June index of builder sentiment.

NEW YORK — The threat of a trade war with Canada has taken a toll on the confidence of U.S. homebuilders, according to index released Monday.

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index released Monday fell two points to 68 in June. A reading of 70 in May temporarily snapped a four-month slide.

Any reading above 50 indicates more builders see sales conditions as good rather than poor. The index has remained above 60 since September 2016.

Builders’ view of current sales conditions fell one point, to 75 this month. The outlook for sales over the next six months fell one point to 76. A measure of buyer traffic fell one point to 50.

“Builders are optimistic about housing market conditions as consumer demand continues to grow,” said NAHB Chairman Randy Noel, “However, builders are increasingly concerned that tariffs placed on Canadian lumber and other imported products are hurting housing affordability.”

The organization said higher lumber prices have added near-

ly $9,000 to the price of a new single-family home since January 2017.

The overall housing market remains tight, with prices of existing homes rising as demand remains strong and listings decrease. Mortgage rates are also steadily increasing, making purchases even more difficult for first-time homebuyers.

Sales of new U.S. homes fell 1.5 percent in April, according to The Commerce Department.

The National Association of Realtors reported a 2.5 percent drop in existing home sales in April.

Expert: Auto tariffs would raise prices, cost jobs

By Tom Krisher A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS

DETROIT — Every workday, about 7,400 trucks mostly loaded with automotive parts rumble across the Ambassador Bridge connecting Detroit and Canada, at times snarling traffic along the busy corridor.

But if President Donald Trump delivers on threats to slap 25 percent tariffs on imported vehicles and components, there will be far fewer big rigs heading to factories that are now humming close to capacity on both sides of the border.

The tariff threat could be a negotiating ploy to restart stalled talks on the North American Free Trade Agreement. But it also could be real, since the administration already has imposed duties on $50 billion worth of Chinese imports, as well as steel and aluminum from China, the European Union, Canada and Mexico.

Tariffs against China include some autos and parts but if those spread to Canada and Mexico, the impact will be far larger because auto manufacturing has been integrated between the three countries for nearly a quarter century.

The Commerce Department said in a statement last week that it “has just launched its investigation into whether imports of auto and auto parts threaten to impair the national security. That investigation, which has only just begun, will inform recommendations to the president for action or inaction.”

If the wider auto tariffs

are imposed, industry experts say they will disrupt a decades-old symbiotic parts supply chain, raise vehicle prices, cut new-vehicle sales, cost jobs in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and even slow related sectors of the economy.

“It seems like it is going to be so devastating that I can’t imagine that they’re actually going to do it,” said Kristen Dziczek, vice president of labor and economics at the Center for Automotive Research, an industry think tank.

Trump, who was sniping on Twitter at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after a contentious economic summit of the Group of Seven earlier this month, told the Commerce Department to look at national security reasons to justify tariffs with hopes of bringing factory jobs to the U.S. He tweeted that the administration would “look at tariffs on automobiles flooding the U.S. Market!”

But experts predict the tariffs likely would do the opposite, slowing the economy as other countries retaliate. Here’s what they say is likely to happen: AUTO PRICES, SALES The tariffs would be charged on parts and assembled autos. Canada, Mexico and others would likely retaliate with duties, and automakers won’t be able to absorb all of the increases. So they will have to raise prices.

Imported parts, which all cars and trucks have, will cost more, further raising costs.

“We’re all going to pay

Dave Chidley / AP

An auto worker puts a wiring harness in a vehicle body during production of the General Motors' Chevrolet Equinox. If President Trump delivers on threats to slap 25 percent tariffs on imported automobiles and parts, experts say it will cut auto sales and cost jobs in the U.S.

a lot more for vehicles,” said Tim Galbraith, sales manager of Cavalier tool and manufacturing in Windsor, Ontario, near Detroit, maker of steel molds used to produce plastic auto parts.

About 44 percent of the 17.2 million new vehicles sold last year in the U.S. were imported from other countries, and half of those came from Canada and Mexico. All have parts from outside the U.S., sometimes as much as 40 percent.

Based on the 24-yearold NAFTA, automakers and suppliers constantly ship fully assembled vehicles as well as engines, transmissions and thousands of small widgets across both U.S. borders. Parts also come from China and other countries.

It’s difficult to determine how large any price increases would be. But some back-of-the-enve-

lope calculations show that a Chevrolet Equinox small SUV made in Canada would cost about $5,250 more in the U.S. if General Motors doesn’t eat part of it. That’s based on an average price of $30,000 in the U.S. for the hot-selling Equinox, made primarily in Ingersoll, Ontario. Tariffs are charged on the manufacturing cost, which is about 70 percent of the sales price.

Toyota’s RAV4, a main Equinox competitor and the top-selling vehicle in the U.S. that’s not a pickup truck, also is made in Canada and would face the same duties. “An import tariff would hurt consumers the most since it would increase the costs of vehicles and parts,” Toyota said in a statement.

Honda’s CR-V, another small SUV, is made in Ohio and would be exempt from the tariff on

assembled vehicles, so it would have a price advantage. But about onequarter of its parts come from other countries.

That would force Honda to raise its price too, said Dziczek.

With higher prices, many people will either keep current vehicles or buy used ones.

Jeff Schuster, senior vice president LMC Automotive, expects U.S. newvehicle sales would fall 1 million to 2 million per year if tariffs are imposed.

Since U.S. auto factories making popular models are running near capacity, automakers couldn’t do much in the short run to build more vehicles in the U.S. and avoid the tariff, Schuster said.

JOBS LOST As sales fall, auto and parts makers would need to cut costs by laying off workers. Mexico and Canada would be hit first, but since they import parts from the U.S., component makers domestically also would have to cut.

For instance, the RAV4’s engines are made in Alabama and transmissions in West Virginia. If sales drop, those factories wouldn’t need as many workers.

On the assembly line at the Ontario Equinox factory, the 2,400 workers are worried about the escalating dispute, said Joe Graves, the union president.

“I don’t really see how one individual can change everything that was put in place over decades,” Graves said of Trump. “It does cause a

lot of uncertainty and instability with our members.”

As sales slump, dealers who sell imported cars would lay off workers, too.

The pro-free trade Peterson Institute predicted that if other countries impose tariffs, U.S. auto production would fall 4 percent, costing 624,000 U.S. jobs in about one-to-three years.

Other sectors of the economy would also be hit because autos touch nearly all manufacturing, said Dan Ujczo, a trade lawyer in Columbus, Ohio. Tariffs would “be a shock wave through the economy. And that will be a red line for Congress to step in and do something,” he predicted.

Retaliatory tariffs from other countries would likely hit U.S. agriculture and other businesses, curtailing exports and also costing jobs, said Dziczek.

Companies with price advantages due to the tariffs may increase U.S. production, and that could bring more jobs.

But Schuster and others expect they would raise production with the existing workforce.

Although Trump would like to see auto and parts production relocated to the U.S., experts say such moves are not likely.

It would take several years and billions of dollars to plan and build new plants, which companies would be reluctant to do without knowing the tariffs are permanent.

It’s possible the next president could undo the tariffs, and the industry likely would wait for that, Dziczek said.

A10 | Wednesday, June 20, 2018 | THE ZAPATA TIMES

NATIONAL

New plan would hold kids longer — but with parents

By Lisa Mascaro and Alan Fram A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS

WASHINGTON — Republicans on Capitol Hill frantically searched on Tuesday for ways to end the Trump administration’s policy of separating families after illegal border crossings, with the focus shifting on a new plan to keep children in detention longer than now permitted — but with their parents.

House GOP leaders are revising their legislation amid a public outcry over President Donald Trump’s “zero tolerance” approach to illegal crossings. The change would loosen rules that now limit the amount of time minors can be held to 20 days, according to a

GOP source familiar with the measure. Instead, the children could be detained with their parents for extended periods.

The revised bill would also give Department of Homeland Security the authority to use $7 billion in border technology funding to pay for family detention centers, the person said. Expanded facilities could be key, as migrant children separated from their parents are currently housed by a different department, Health and Human Services.

The person providing the information on the proposal was not authorized to do so by name and commented only on condition of anonymity.

In the Senate, mean-

while, Republicans are rallying behind narrow legislation that would allow detained families to stay together while expediting their deportation proceedings.

The second-ranking Republican, John Cornyn of Texas, said they’re proposing a “humane, safe and secure family facility” where parents and minor children could be detained together. He said families would move to the head of the line for processing.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters that all Senate Republicans are supporting the plan. He said he’s reaching out to Democrats for bipartisan backing, since the proposal would need to reach a 60-vote threshold for

approval in the Senate.

But Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York signaled that no such support would be coming, saying it’s already in Trump’s power to keep the families together.

“There’s no need for legislation. There’s no need for anything else.

You can do it. Mr. President you started it, you can stop it.”

Republicans were scrambling to update their approach ahead of a visit from Trump, who called earlier in the day for Congress to approve what he called a third option to address the family separations.

“So what I’m asking Congress to do is to give us a third option, which we have been requesting

Susan Stocker / TNS

Sen. Bill Nelson and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz are denied entry into the Homestead Temporary Shelter for Unaccompanied Children on Tuesday in Homestead, Fla.

since last year, the legal authority to detain and promptly remove families together as a unit,” Trump said Tuesday. “We have to be able to do this. This is the only solution to the border crisis.”

Trump’s meeting at the Capitol comes as lawmakers in both parties are up in arms after days of news reports showing images of children being held at border facilities in cages and an audio recording of a young child pleading for his “Papa.”

The issue boiled over Tuesday at a House hear-

ing on an unrelated subject when protesters with babies briefly shut down proceedings.

Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, pleaded with Republicans on the panel to end what he called “internment camps.”

“We need you, those children need you —and I am talking directly to my Republican colleagues— we need you to stand up to President Donald Trump,” he said.

Frontera THE ZAPATA TIMES | Wednesday, June 20, 2018 |

RIBEREÑA EN BREVE SERVICIOS DE GENEALOGÍA 1 ¿Quiere conocer sobre sus raíces familiares? Visite el centro Roma Birding Center/ Computer Lab en Roma, cada martes a las 6:30 p.m., para obtener información.

ESCUELA DE VERANO 1 Escuela de Verano: Destino descubriendo a Dios, del 26 al 28 de junio en Bethel Mission Outreach Center, 206 Bethel St. en Roma.

4 DE JULIO 1 Celebración del 4 de julio en el Distrito Histórico de la Ciudad de Roma, el 4 de julio de 6 a 11:30 p.m.

CLASE DE ZUMBA 1 El Departamento de Bomberos del Condado de Zapata invita a la Clase Maestra de Zumba para gastos médicos y de viaje de Ike Gutiérez, el 14 de julio, en Muscle & Fitness Center, 5500 Tesoro Plaza en Laredo, de 10 a.m. a 12 p.m.

VERANO SOCIAL 1 Sabor de verano en Dairy Queen, Hwy 83 N., disfrute de un sundae gratis en Zapata DQ el jueves 9 de agosto de 3 a 5 p.m. todas las edades están invitadas. Habrá estaciones para hacer tu propio sundae, premios, souvenir bowls y diversión familiar.

ZAPATA HS CLASE DE 1993 1 Reunión de la generación de 1993 de Zapata High School, celebrarán su 25 aniversario en Patno’s Patio Bar & Grill, 313 Lake Shore Dr., el sábado 11 de agosto a las 8 p.m. Solo estudiantes y sus parejas.

AVIARIO 1 La Ciudad de Roma invita a visitar el aviario Roma Bluffs World Birding Center en el distrito histórico de Roma. El aviario estará abierto desde el jueves a domingo de 8 a.m. a 4 p.m. hasta enero. Mayores informes al 956849-1411 BOTES DE BASURA 1 La Ciudad de Roma informa a la comunidad que sólo estará recolectando basura contenida en botes propiedad de la ciudad. Informes al 849-1411 PAGO DE IMPUESTOS 1 Desde diciembre, los pagos por impuestos a la propiedad de la Ciudad de Roma deberán realizarse en la oficina de impuestos del Distrito Escolar de Roma, localizado en el 608 N. García St. PAGO EN LÍNEA 1 La Ciudad de Roma informa a sus residentes que a partir de ahora el servicio del agua puede pagarse en línea a cualquier hora las 24 horas del día.

LLENADO DE APLICACIONES 1 La Ciudad de Roma ofrece el servicio de llenado de aplicaciones para CHIP, Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, Chip, Prenatal y otros. Contacte a Gaby Rodríguez para una cita en el centro comunitario o en su domicilio al 956246-7177.

A11

OFICINA DEL ALGUACIL DEL CONDADO DE ZAPATA

Demanda condado Hombre alega ser víctima de brutalidad policial Por Maria Gardner TIEMP O DE ZAPATA

Quejas sobre brutalidad policial y violaciones a derechos constitucionales han sido emitidas en contra de oficiales de la Oficina del Condado de Zapata.

El residente de Zapata Juan Carlos Salazar dijo que había recibido electrochoques con un Taser durante 20 segundos por un oficial del alguacil mientras estaba en el piso boca abajo con sus manos sobre la cabeza durante una detención de tráfico, de acuerdo con alegatos de una demanda enmendada emitida en la corte federal de Laredo el 31 de mayo.

La demanda alega que lo que le ocurrió a Salazar no fue un incidente aislado, sino una práctica rutinaria de brutalidad por parte de las fuerzas del orden en el Condado de Zapata.

Alrededor dos meses anteriores al incidente, un oficial del alguacil y el ex alguacil Sigilfredo González visitaron a Salazar en su casa para decirle que lo había experimentado era uso excesivo de la fuerza, de acuerdo con la demanda. Ellos también le informaron que no era el único enfrentándose a brutalidad policíaca a manos de la Oficina del Alguacil del Condado de Zapata y empleados de la Cárcel Regional, dice la demanda.

González dijo que hay al menos otros cuatro incidentes ocurridos desde la elección de Alonzo López como Alguacil del Condado de Zapata en 2012, de acuerdo con la demanda.

La petición alega que Lopez y el Jefe Interino Raymundo del Bosque Jr., “no implementaron polít-

icas preexistentes para disciplinar por el uso de la fuerza excesiva, entrenar oficiales adecuadamente por el uso de tal fuerza, y/o responder a quejas sobre el uso de tal fuerza”.

“Con indiferencia deliberada a los derechos de los ciudadanos de ser libres de fuerza excesiva por la policía, los acusados el Condado de Zapata, Alonso López y del Bosque han alentado, tolerado, ratificado y aceptado un ambiente peligroso de brutalidad policiaca”, de acuerdo con la demanda.

Salazar busca daños punitivos, como daño a su salud mental y física. Él también busca medidas cautelares, una orden de la corte que requeriría que el condado implementara políticas y protocolos para prevenir incidentes de uso excesivo de la fuerza, dijo el abogado de Salazar, Daniel M. Hammond a Laredo Morning Times.

En un registro de la corte, los acusados en la demanda negaron los alegatos en su contra.

Lopez y del Bosque no estuvieron disponibles para comentarios. La abogada de la corte, Eileen M. Leed, negó hacer comentarios sobre el tema.

Ella no confirmó ni negó si la Oficina del Alguacil ha realizado una investigación sobre el incidente involucrando a Salazar, pero dijo que, como parte del protocolo, el abogado de la defensa conduce sus propias investigaciones.

El video de la cámara de la patrulla, obtenido por los abogados de Salazar a través de la corte, proporciona evidencia para apoyar el caso de Salazar, dijo Hammond.

“Creemos que el video realmente habla por sí

mismo”, dijo Hammond. “Él no se estaba oponiendo al arresto”.

Los abogados de Salazar dijeron que planean usar el testimonio y evidencia recabada de otras supuestas víctimas de fuerza excesiva para establecer un patrón de comportamiento por parte de las fuerzas del orden.

“Realmente creemos que Salazar ha sufrido una gran injusticia”, dijo Faduma Hassan Ali, uno de los abogados de Salazar. Él agregó que espera que, como resultado de la demanda, “esperamos que estos actos no vuelvan a pasar en el futuro”.

La detención de trafico de Salazar ocurrió el 1 de marzo de 2014. La demanda indica que por miedo a los oficiales del alguacil y creyendo que no había cometido ninguna violación que ameritara una detención de tráfico, Salazar incrementó su velocidad cuando vio el vehículo de las fuerzas del orden en el espejo retrovisor. Él estaba condiciendo el auto de su amigo a la velocidad permitida con placas al corriente, luces funcionando y sin contrabando ni posesiones ilegales en el auto, dice la demanda.

Dos unidades de la Oficina del Alguacil se unieron a la persecución que duró alrededor de cinco minutos hasta que Salazar detuvo el vehículo y se orilló.

Utilizando imágenes tomadas del video de la cámara en la unidad del Oficial Juan Rene Molina, la demanda describe los momentos antes y después de que Salazar recibiera los electrochoques.

Salazar, como signo de rendición y entrega, se arrodillo al piso inicialmente cuando salió del vehículo con sus manos en

el aire gritando, “no me estoy resistiendo”, de acuerdo con la demanda. Él procedió a acostarse en el piso con su cara viendo al piso y sus manos sobre la cabeza.

“No me estoy resistiendo” y “por favor no me den electrochoques. Tengo asma”, Salazar gritó según la demanda.

Molina se acercó a Salazar mientras estaba en el piso y le gritó en español, “No eres tan listo” antes de proceder a usar el Taser, de acuerdo con la demanda.

“Las sondas del Taser a travesaron la camiseta de Salazar y se atoraron en su espalda, justo por debajo del cuello y los omoplatos. Salazar gritó en agonía”, de acuerdo con la demanda.

“Molina sostuvo el gatillo del Taser durante aproximadamente 20 segundos mientras que Salazar se retorcía del dolor en el piso”, dice la demanda.

Cuando Molina retiro las sondas del Taser, causó que Salazar sangrara.

Salazar indica que él no recibió ningún tipo de cuidado médico o que fuera llevado para ser tratado debidamente por ninguno de los oficiales presentes. Él fue llevado a la Cárcel Regional del Condado de Zapata por el oficial Adrien Lopez.

De acuerdo con la demanda, “durante el recorrido, Salazar dijo, ‘Creo que están violando mis derechos’ y López contestó, ‘Estas en el Condado de Zapata. No tienes derechos’”.

Una vez en la cárcel, los oficiales no hicieron ningún esfuerzo por tratar las heridas que había sostenido, de acuerdo con la demanda.

IBC BANK-ZAPATA

La enfermera de la Cárcel Regional del Condado de Zapata Erica Sáenz limpió la sangre de su espalda, le tomó foto a las heridas y le proporcionó una cama pero no trató las heridas, de acuerdo con la demanda.

Salazar le dijo a Sean, “Por favor ayúdame, tengo mal la espalda y un asma grave”, dice la demanda.

“A pesar de las quejas persistentes de Salazar sobre su dolor y el asma, el Oficial Omar Saldaña Jr., firmó un certificado de despacho médico indicando que Salazar, ‘había dicho que no estaba en necesidad de tratamiento médico’”, de acuerdo con la demanda.

Durante aproximadamente cinco días, Salazar se acostó en un colchón en la cárcel con dolor físico y sin tratamiento médico, de acuerdo con la demanda.

Salazar fue liberado bajo la promesa de que comparecería ante la corte.

Sin seguro médico y sin dinero para pagar por un tratamiento, la recuperación de Salazar fue lenta y dolorosa de acuerdo con la demanda. Como resultado del incidente, Salazar tiene miedo de las fuerzas del orden y se enfrenta a sufrimiento emocional como tristeza, soledad y recuerdos del electrochoque, dice la demanda.

Los acusados en la demanda incluyen al Condado de Zapata, al Alguacil Alonso Lopez, al Jefe Interino Raymundo del Bosque Jr., al Oficial Juan Rene Molina, al Oficial Adrián López, al empleado de la Cárcel Regional Jesus Hinojosa, los oficiales de la Cárcel Regional Erasmo Maldonado y J. Delgado Jr., así como a la enfermera de la Cárcel Regional Erica Sáenz.

SALUD

BANCO ENREGA BECAS DE Realizan taller EDUCACIÓN SUPERIOR sobre suicidio Repartieron 13.000 dólares a estudiantes

E SPECIAL PARA TIEMP O DE ZAPATA

E SPECIAL PARA TIEMP O DE ZAPATA

I

BC Bank-Zapata continua su apoyo a la educación superior entregando a estudiantes del área la beca A.R. Sánchez Sr. Memorial Scholarship mientras continúan su aventura hacia la universidad e inician el nuevo capitulo de sus vidas.

Las becas son entregadas a los estudiantes que demostraron una actitud de “Hacer más” y liderazgo en asuntos estudiantiles y de la comunidad a través de sus años en la preparatoria.

Un evento fue realizado por IBC Bank-Zapata en el que se entregaron 13.000 dólares en becas a estudiantes de 11 preparatorias.

“Los estudiantes seleccionados para recibir las becas son un ejemplo de la filosofía “Hacemos más” de IBC Bank”, dijo Margarita Flores, vicepresidenta

Foto de cortesía

Abajo de izquieda: Jennifer Rios, Cristy Lopez, Perla Grimaldo y Allyson Rangel. Arriba de izquieda: Javier A. Ramirez de IBC Bank-Zapata, Gregoria Andrade, Sydney Munoz, Andrew Rodriguez, y Ricardo Ramirez, CEO y Presidente de IBC Bank-Zapata.

de mercadotecnia corporativa de IBC Bank.

“Estamos extremadamente honrados de ayudar a perseguir sus metas de educación superior”.

Nacido en una familia humilde, Antonio R. Sánchez Sr., por quien la beca lleva su nombre, apoyó siembre hacer la educación superior disponible a aquellos interesados en mejorar sus vidas. El compromiso de Sánchez al poder de aprender vive en la beca A.R. Sánchez, Sr. Memorial Scholarship Award, la cual es entregada anualmente a estudiantes de ultimo año de preparatoria en el Sur de

Texas y Oklahoma.

“Me da mucho gusto ver la expresión en las caras de los estudiantes y sus padres mientras le entregamos un cheque por 1.000 dólares, el cual pueden usar para aliviar el costo de ir a la escuela”, dijo Ricardo Ramírez, presidente y CEO de IBC Bank-Zapata. “Amamos dar a la comunidad y sabemos que los premios son apreciados”.

Los galardonados con la beca son: 1 Alberto Gonzalez, Zapata High School 1 Genesis Villarreal, Zapata High School 1 Gregorio Andrade, Za-

pata High School 1 Jermayne Miller, AC Jones High School 1 Sydney Munoz, Alice High School 1 Allyson Rangel, Freer High School 1 Cristy Lopez, Hebbronville High School 1 Samantha Arredondo, Kingsville High School 1 Paola M Ibarra, La Grulla High School 1 Jennifer Rios, Rio Grande High School 1 Perla Grimaldo, Roma High School 1 Andrew Rodriguez, San Isidro High School 1 Milexia Garcia, Santa Getrudis Academy High School

Border Region Behavioral Center estará realizando un taller de prevención del suicidio el 28 de junio a las 2:30 p.m. en el auditorio del centro.

El centro está ubicado en 1500 Pappas Street en Laredo.

El taller está diseñado para proporcionar información que ayudará a identificar los signos y síntomas asociados con los riesgos del suicidio, distinguir entre suicidio y auto-heridas, entender la importancia del cuidado propio, e identificar recursos de prevención del suicidio en nuestra comunidad.

Border Region Behavioral Health Center es la autoridad local en salud mental que proporciona servicios de salud mental a los ciudadanos de los condados Webb, Jim Hogg, Starr y Zapata para todos los afligidos con una discapacidad mental o emocional.

Para mayores informes contacte a Jackie Villanueva al 956-794-3026 o Acelina Caselli al 956-794-3175.

El taller es gratuito y abierto al público.

A12 | Wednesday, June 20, 2018 | THE ZAPATA TIMES

FROM THE COVER

Police think XXXTentacion slaying was random

By Terry Spencer and Curt Anderson A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. — The lawyer for slain rapper XXXTentacion said Tuesday that detectives believe he was fatally shot in a random robbery while likely planning to buy a motorcycle at an upscale shop near a low-income neighborhood in South Florida.

Attorney David Bogen-

schutz said investigators also told him the 20-yearold rapper, who proOnfroy nounced his stage name “Ex Ex Ex ten-tasee-YAWN,� had visited a bank shortly before the shooting and possibly withdrew cash for the purchase.

No arrests have been

made in Monday’s shooting at Riva Motosports in Deerfield Beach.

XXXTentacion, whose real name was Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy, was exiting the shop’s parking lot in his luxury BMW electric car when he was shot.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office says deputies are searching for two suspects who fled in a dark SUV. On Tuesday morning, workers continued building a 6-foot (2-meter) wall

Danny Zaragoza / Laredo Morning Times

U.S. district judges Marina Garcia Marmolejo and Diana SaldaĂąa and U.S. magistrate judges Diana Song Quiroga and John Kazen gather for a photo after he was sworn in as the newest magistrate judge on Monday at the federal courthouse in Laredo.

KAZEN From page A3 U.S. Magistrate Judge Diana Song Quiroga said she looked forward to having him as a colleague. She has been handling all of the magistrate judge duties for the Laredo courthouse after then-U.S. Magistrate Judge Guillermo R. Garcia resigned in March. “I have been flying solo for a while,� Song Quiroga said. “You joining the magistrate court will be a welcomed relief ... I’m so happy for you and your family, and now you’re part of our chamber family as well.�

His former firm part-

ners had only praises for the new judge. In 1997, Kazen formed the law firm Kazen, Meurer & PĂŠrez along with attorneys George Russel “Rustyâ€? Meurer and Sigifredo PĂŠrez III. “It’s a loss for us, but it’s a huge gain for the federal system. He has exceptional skills and abilities and there's not doubt in my mind that he’s going to be huge asset for them,â€? PĂŠrez said. “He’s always been a standout and bright guy,â€?

Meurer added. “We’re going to miss him, but he’s going to do very well.�

Joana Santillana may be

reached at 956-728-2528 or jsantillana@lmtonline.com

SUICIDE From page A1 the local mental health authority that provides mental health services to citizens of Webb, Jim Hogg, Starr and Zapata counties for those afflicted with a mental or an emotional disability.

For more information, contact Jackie Villanueva at 956-794-3026 or Acelina Caselli at 956-7943175.

This workshop is free of charge and open to the public.

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around the property of the newly built home where XXXTentacion lived in Parkland, the same suburb of Fort Lauderdale where a gunman fatally shot 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February.

Family members and friends were in the house’s yard but declined to comment.

Candles, a teddy bear and a large, signed sympathy card lined the front porch of the 5,957-squarefoot (553-square-meter) home, which was purchased late last year for $1.4 million. Property records list the owners as Cleopatra Bernard, the singer’s mother. Her name was tattooed across his chest.

Riva Motorsports is an upscale seller of motorcycles, boats, all-terrain vehicles and scooters off a main highway, next to railroad tracks and a

neighborhood of tract homes.

On Tuesday afternoon a steady stream of fans had placed candles, flowers and teddy bears on the sidewalk near where he was shot, and decorated 100 yards of sidewalk with chalk art including messages of sympathy and loss such as “Feel for you XXX� and “4evr Young.�

Myles O’Hara, 17, and Aaron Gavin, 20, sat on the curb, solemnly staring at the ground, mostly ignoring the people who moved past. They said they admired XXXTentacion because he was a local kid who rose from rough circumstances and was making a positive contribution. “He had some legal allegations before, but the last year he had only been a positive influence on people’s lives, making hit Billboard songs,� O’Hara said. “He has been a kind

person. You could look at his face and smile and he was just a normal kid like us ... His style is almost hard to explain. He had an angry tone. He meant everything he said, even the most simplistic words.

It just came off his tongue like nothing. He was speaking his mind.�

Gavin said unlike other rappers whose songs emphasize buying expensive merchandise, he said XXXTentacion rapped about his emotions. “X talked about how he felt instead of materialistic things like owning this car, this car, this house, this house,� Gavin said.

Brandon Lang, a 29year-old magazine owner, said XXXTentacion may have had an angry persona in his performance, but in reality he “did good things,� pointing out that he had come home to perform in an upcoming charity show.

THE ZAPATA TIMES | Wednesday, June 20, 2018 |

A13

A14 | Wednesday, June 20, 2018 | THE ZAPATA TIMES

FROM THE COVER LAWSUIT From page A1 incidents of excessive force from occurring again, Salazar’s lawyer, Daniel M. Hammond, told Zapata Times.

In a court record, the defendants in the lawsuit denied the allegations against them. Lopez and Del Bosque were not available for comment.

The county’s lawyer, Eileen M. Leed, declined to comment on this story.

She would not confirm or deny whether the Sheriff’s Office has conducted an investigation into the incident involving Salazar, but said as part of protocol, the defense attorneys conducts their own investigation.

The dashboard video, obtained by Salazar’s lawyers through court proceedings, provides evidence to support Salazar’s case, Hammond said.

“We think the video really speaks for himself,” Hammond said. “He wasn’t opposing arrest.”

Salazar’s lawyers said they plan to use the testimony and evidence gathered of other alleged victims of excessive force to establish a pattern of behavior by the county law enforcement officials.

“We feel strongly Mr. Salazar has suffered a great injustice,” said Faduma Hassan Ali, one of Salazar’s attorneys. He added that he hopes that as a result of the lawsuit, “we hope these acts don't happen in the future.”

The traffic stop on Salazar occurred March 1, 2014. The lawsuit states that in fear of the sheriff’s deputies and believing that he had not committed any violations that would warrant a traffic stop, Salazar increased his speed when he saw the law enforcement

vehicle in the rearview mirror.

He was driving his friend’s car at the legal speed with the license plates up to date, functional lights and no contrabands or other illegal possessions in the vehicle, the lawsuit states.

Two additional Sheriff’s Office units joined the chase, which lasted about five minutes.

Salazar pulled the vehicle to the side of the road. Using still-frame images taken from the dash-board camera in Deputy Juan Rene Molina’s patrol car, the lawsuit describes the moments before and after Salazar being tazed.

Salazar, as a sign of surrender and submission, knelt to the ground initially when he exited

the vehicle with his hands in the air and yelled, “I’m not resisting,” according to the suit.

He proceeded to lie flat with his face resting on the ground and his hands over his head, the lawsuit states.

“I’m not resisting,” and “Please do not tase me. I have asthma,” Salazar proceeded to shout, according to the suit.

Molina approached Salazar as he was lying on the ground and yelled at him in Spanish, “You are not that slick,” before tasing him, the lawsuit states.

“The Taser probes pierced through Salazar’s shirt and latched onto his back just below the neck between his shoulder blades. Salazar jerked up in agony,” according to

the lawsuit.

“Molina held the trigger of the Taser down for approximately 20 seconds while Salazar continued to writhe in pain on the ground,” the lawsuit states.

When Molina removed the Taser probes, it caused Salazar to bleed.

Salazar claims that he did not receive any medical care.

He was taken to Zapata County Regional Jail by Deputy Adrien Lopez.

According to the lawsuit, “During the drive, Salazar said, ‘I think they violated my rights,’ and Lopez replied, ‘You’re in Zapata County. You have no rights.’”

Once in jail, officials made no effort to treat the injuries he sustained, according to the suit.

Zapata County Regional jail nurse Erica Saenz wiped blood off his back, took pictures of his injures and provided him with a bed but failed to treat his injuries, according to the suit.

Salazar told Saenz, “Please help me. I have a bad back and bad asthma,” the lawsuit states.

“Despite Salazar’s persistent complaints about his pain and asthma, Deputy Omar Saldaña Jr. signed a ‘Medical Clearance Certification’ stating that Salazar ‘indicated that he (was) not in need of medical treatment,’” according to the lawsuit.

Salazar was later released on a recognizance bond with a promise to appear before a court.

Without medical insurance and the money to

pay for out-of-pocket treatment, Salazar’s recovery was slow and painful, according to the lawsuit. As a result of the ordeal, Salazar is fearful of law enforcement and faces mental and emotional distress, such as sadness, loneliness and flashbacks of the tazing, the lawsuit states.

The defendants in the lawsuit include Zapata County; Sheriff Alonso Lopez; Chief Deputy Raymundo Del Bosque Jr.; Deputy Juan Rene Molina; Deputy Adrian Lopez; Jesus Hinojosa, employee of the Zapata County Regional Jail; Zapata County Regional Jail officers Erasmo Maldonado and J. Delgado Jr.; and Erica Saenz, Zapata County Regional Jail nurse.