Laredo ICE Agent Killed in Mexico; Obama Calls Family

Wednesday, Feb 16, 2011 | Updated 12:45 PM CDT

Authorities are vowing to capture those responsible for killing a U.S. agent assigned to Laredo who was shot while in northern Mexico.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Wednesday that Special Agent Jaime Zapata died a day earlier after assailants opened fire on his vehicle as he drove from Monterrey, Mexico, to Mexico City.

ICE said another agent was stable after being shot twice in the leg. He's been transported back to the United States. His name wasn't released. Both agents recently were assigned to ICE's attache office in Mexico City.

Zapata was Brownsville native and 2005 graduate of the University of Texas at Brownsville. He joined ICE in 2006. Zapata was a former member of the U.S. Border Patrol in Yuma, Ariz.

President Barack Obama Phones Agent's Family

President Barack Obama has expressed condolences to the parents of a federal immigration and customs agent killed in Mexico.

White House spokesman Nick Shapiro said Obama telephoned Special Agent Jaime Zapata's parents on Wednesday.

Obama said their son served the United States admirably and that his country was grateful for his selfless service

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