February 5 2003

Yesterday federal agents arrested three U.S. Consulate workers on charges of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. According to complaints filed in the federal district court of the Southern District of Texas, the three men were taking bribes in exchange for granting visas and border crossing cards without the required interviews, and without determining eligibility for visas.

All three defendants are Mexican citizens.

The U.S. Consulate in Nuevo Laredo was closed on January 29, 2003, and is still closed.