On March 31, Mexican federal officers arrested Marine Corps Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi for weapons possession. Tahmorressi, meanwhile, says he took a wrong turn and crossed the southern border by mistake. The 25-year-old decorated war veteran and Florida native was in the process of relocating to San Diego for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. He had been in San Diego for 10 days when he took the wrong turn at the San Ysidro checkpoint.
Last Friday, TheBlaze received and released the last ditch 911 call placed by Tahmooressi just minutes before he was arrested. The fear in Tahmooressi’s voice is obvious as he tells the 911 operator, “The problem is I crossed the border by accident and I have three guns in my truck and they’re trying to take my guns from me.” The 911 operator replies, “There’s nothing I can help you with sir. I do apologize.”
After being arrested, Tahmooressi was originally held in Tijuana’s La Mesa Penitentiary, where he was placed in general population and his life was threatened. He was then moved to solitary confinement and shackled to a bed for nearly 30 days. Last week, Tahmorressi was moved to a maximum-security prison about 40 miles outside of Tijuana. He faces a sentence of six to 21 years in a Mexican prison for carrying his registered AR-15 rifle, .45-caliber pistol, and 12-gauge pump shotgun in his car across the border.
While this case has slowly but surely received more and more attention, it seems as though little is being done to secure Tahmooressi’s release. On Wednesday’s Glenn Beck Program, Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA), who represents the district that includes the San Ysidro checkpoint, joined Glenn to discuss the work he and other members of Congress are doing to help Tahmooressi.
Watch Glenn’s interview with Hunter below:
On radio this morning, Sgt. Tahmooressi’s mother Jill joined Glenn in studio to further discuss her fight to free her son. After describing in emotional detail the toll this ordeal has taken on both her and her son, Tahmooressi discussed some of the ways concerned citizens can get involved in raising awareness about the case.
The statement of evidence in the case is set to take place on May 28, which is a stunning 60 days after Sgt. Tahmooressi’s arrest.
“May 28th is the first official statement of evidence,” Tahmooressi said. “Now, woefully it's 60 days delayed from the actual arrest, but on May 28 the border agents, customs agents, and Mexican officials will provide their statement of what happened at the border. That's what's planned on May 28 before the judge that's residing over the case.”
This hearing will be particularly important given statements already made by the head of Mexican customs in Tijuana, Alejandro Gonzalez Guilbot.
“All I know is that I was appalled and mortified and my worst fear came true when I read the custom director, Alejandro Gonzalez Guilbot, stated uncategorically that my son said that he was driving purposefully into Tijuana to meet friends and to seek medical care,” Tahmooressi said. “That was my worst nightmare because that is a flat-out lie.”
“That makes me believe, if the customs director is already putting out that statement and the border guards have not even officially placed their statement before the judge, I mean, that it is a totally corrupt and doomed. That is my opinion on that,”she continued. “Now, as far as [Gonzalez Guilbot] himself, I haven't researched him. I just have heard a little bit that he may not be the most honorable gentleman.”
Tahmooressi encouraged listeners to sign the petition on WhiteHouse.gov before May 31. If the petition reaches 100,000 signatures, the White House is forced to respond. Such a response would be the first comment from the Obama Administration on the matter. At the time this article was published, the petition had 49,000 signatures.
You can access the WhiteHouse.gov petition HERE.
Another way to learn more about the various rallies being held for Sgt. Tahmooressi all around the country is by visiting the “Free USMC Sgt. Tahmooressi from Mexican Jail” Facebook page.
“If you are somebody that wants to get involved in these rallies, I urge you to do so… The best thing we can do is surround the Mexican consulate, arm in arm, and pray. Be peaceful and loving and good neighbors without any rage, without any anger, without any malice,” Glenn concluded. “Church groups should be doing this. If you have the strength of Christ, and you will stand peacefully, turn the other cheek, love your neighbor, love your enemy – if you do that, you will make an impact.”
Editor's Note:Jill Tahmooressi will also be on Thursday's Glenn Beck Program at 5pm ET on TheBlaze TV. Not a subscriber? Start your 14-day free trial HERE.