Marine Corps Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi has been in a Mexican prison since March 31 when Mexican federal officers arrested him for weapons possession. Tahmorressi has maintained he took a wrong turn and crossed the southern border at the San Ysidro checkpoint 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 and had been in San Diego for just 10 days when the arrest occurred.
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. In late May, Tahmorressi was moved to a maximum-security prison about 40 miles outside of Tijuana, where 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.
On radio this morning, Glenn spoke to Andrew’s mother, Jill Tahmooressi, about the latest in the fight for his freedom. Wednesday will mark the first time Andrew will actually be able to speak to a judge in court, and Jill called from Mexico to provide an update.
Based on the counsel of Andrew’s attorney, Jill does not believe her son will be released from prison today, but she remains hopefully and optimistic that, in time, justice will prevail.
“The attorney… says it's not probable that he'll be released today,” Jill said. “But God is mighty, and I know that so many of Americans and [people] across the world are praying that that is what happens today.”
Jill explained that her son is in good spirits despite what he has been through, and he is looking forward to getting back to his life and treatment for PTSD.
“He's hanging this there. You know, of course, he's a Marine, so he's gonna… fight through this. And he's gonna push through until he's free,” Jill said. “We're just so hopeful it's soon because he's got so much needs that need to be taken care of. And he needs to get out so he can continue on with his life and with his recovery.”
Andrew had traveled from his home in Florida to San Diego in order to get treatment for PTSD, and what he has endured in prison thus far has exasperated the problem in many ways. Jill said her son will join the Mighty Oaks Foundation PTSD program once he is returned to the United States.
The Andrew Freedom Fund has been set up to help raise money to cover the various legal and travel expenses incurred by the Tahmooressi family these last few months. Glenn asked Jill if there is anything else the audience can do to help Andrew and the family.
“Just the prayers,” Jill concluded. “I know God is mighty and just praying that the judge discerns the truth and that the judge is an honorable, God-fearing man who respects the truth and for the Holy Spirit to give Andrew the courage.”
Learn more about the Andrew Freedom Fund HERE.