Man Admits Assaulting INS Agent

An illegal immigrant who escaped from federal custody while awaiting deportation to Honduras pleaded guilty Wednesday in Los Angeles federal court to a felony charge of assaulting an INS agent who tried to recapture him.

In a plea agreement with prosecutors, Rony Eduardo Vasquez-Torres admitted that the INS officers who tried to recapture him acted lawfully and that he resisted arrest after being chased into the lobby of an apartment house near MacArthur Park.

Vasquez’s arrest Oct. 7, 1997, stirred protests within the Latino immigrant community.

Two women in the apartment building tried to intercede when they encountered Vasquez screaming for help as he was being overpowered by four men in dark jackets. Failing, the women dialed 911.

After police arrived and the INS officers identified themselves, the women, Maura Gomez and Zoila Rodriguez, were taken into custody for allegedly interfering with an arrest.

No criminal charges were filed against them, but they were turned over to the INS as undocumented immigrants. Both are now fighting deportation orders.

Gomez, 38, is a single mother of two children, both of whom were born in the United States and are American citizens.

“If I take them to Honduras, it’s going to be a disaster for them,” she said after the INS moved to expel her. “I’m ruining the life of my children because I tried to do the right thing.”

She said she spent nine days in INS detention at Terminal Island worrying about her children, who stayed with friends until she was freed on bond.

In exchange for Vasquez’s plea, Assistant U.S. Atty. Daniel Saunders agreed to recommend that he be sentenced to two years in prison. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Vasquez also agreed not to contest deportation when he is released from prison.