LA FERIA — Marie Vega is still waiting.
But not for survivors’ benefits stemming from her son Javier Vega Jr.’s shooting death more than two years ago.
She’s waiting for the federal government to show its respect for the sacrifice of her son, a U.S. Border Patrol agent.
Yesterday, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas; U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, and other lawmakers called on U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske to reclassify her son’s death as the result of a shooting in the line of duty.
Since last year, Cornyn and Vela have requested the agency to reclassify Vega’s death, a move that would allow his family to receive survivor benefits earned through service to his country.
“It’s almost as if we’ve been slapped in the face and punched in the stomach,” Marie Vega said yesterday. “It’s not about the benefits. My son was very committed to his job and to his country. It’s a disrespect to him.”
On Aug. 3, 2014, two Mexican nationals shot Vega, who was off-duty, and his father after trying to rob them. Both had been fishing with family members in the Santa Monica area off FM 1420 about 3.5 miles east of the north levee, Willacy County Sheriff Larry Spence said at the time.
Javier Vega Sr. was shot in the lower back and released from a hospital about two days later.
Gustavo Tijerina-Sandoval and Ismael Hernandez-Vallejo await trial on charges of capital murder and attempted capital murder.
Tijerina-Sandoval’s arrest helped Cameron County authorities crack down on a string of armed robberies at remote fishing spots in the Rio Hondo area, officials said.
In August 2014, a Cameron County judge arraigned Tijerina-Sandoval on seven counts of aggravated armed robbery and three counts of engaging in organized criminal activity, Cameron County Sheriff Omar Lucio said at the time.
Cornyn and Vela continue to request Kerlikowske to reclassify Vega’s death because he “was a hero who upheld his oath to protect and serve even while off-duty.”
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