President Biden signs Rep. Henry Cuellar's Protection Act into law

President Biden signed the Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila Federal Law Enforcement Protection Act into law at the White House on Thursday – ensuring that individuals who harm U.S. federal officers and employees while serving abroad can be prosecuted in the United States.

“The bill is named for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Special Agents Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila, who were attacked by Mexican drug cartels in San Luis Potosi, Mexico on February 15, 2011,” explained Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), who originally introduced the bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Although the perpetrators were apprehended, a U.S. federal appeals court dismissed the murder convictions due to a lack of jurisdiction last year.  

“My legislation ensures that something like this will never happen again,” Cuellar noted.

Cuellar, born to Mexican-American parents, has served as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 28th congressional district since 2005.

The bill’s bi-partisan co-sponsors include Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.). U.S. Representatives Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), and Michael McCaul (R-Texas) led the companion bill in the House of Representatives.

At the White House, President Biden also signed into law two other bills: the Protecting America’s First Responders Act, which will provide for increased Public Safety Officers’ Benefit Program (PSOB) awards in certain instances, and the COPS Counseling Act, which will incentivize officers to utilize peer support programs.

“Federal agents make great sacrifices in service to our country. They protect our homeland, our ideals and our values,” Cuellar wrote in a press release. “As a member of Congress, it is my duty to protect our service members during active duty and beyond. I thank Sen. (John) Cornyn for his continued efforts to protect those who guard our country, and I thank President (Joe) Biden for quickly signing this bill into law.”