The El Paso City Council unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday asking for the release of an American trucker detained in Mexico.
Jabin Bogan, 27, was arrested in the Mexican border city of Juárez on April 17 after driving his truck across the international bridge with a load of ammunition. He was charged with smuggling, a federal offense.
Bogan's El Paso-based attorney, Carlos Spector, says his client mistakenly made a wrong turn and ended up at the international bridge. Instead of turning around, Spector says Bogan crossed over, hoping to simply turn back and return to the United States. He says the load Bogan was carrying was a legitimate delivery meant for a company in Phoenix.
A number of locals spoke in favor of the council's resolution, including El Paso pastor Michael Grady.
"This is not a political issue but an issue of humanitarian assistance," Grady said.
Bogan lives in Dallas where he has a 6-year-old son. He is appealing the charges against him and is currently detained in the gulf state of Veracruz.
