Owners of Abby's Bakery in Los Fresnos charged with harboring illegal migrants

LOS FRESNOS, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The owners of Abby's Bakery in Los Fresnos, Texas have been charged with harboring people illegally present in the U.S. and aiding and abetting the harboring, according to a criminal complaint.

Leonardo Baez and Nora Alicia Avila-Guel identified themselves to authorities as the owners of Abby's Bakery and were charged after eight people present in the country illegally were found at their business on Feb. 12.

Abby's Bakery in Los Fresnos, Texas (Photo taken by Jorge Vela/ValleyCentral)

Baez and Avila-Guel admitted that they knew the people were unlawfully present in the country and that they harbored them in the property that they personally owned, according to the criminal complaint.

Two of the people present in the country illegally identified Baez and Avila-Guel as the bakery owners and the duo that harbored them and others.

According to the complaint, the apprehension of the individuals was the result of a worksite enforcement action.

"Post event, the facts of the event were presented to the duty AUSA, who agreed there was sufficient cause for a complaint for harboring and accepted prosecution," the complaint stated.

Los Fresnos Mayor Alejandro Flores issued the following statement after receiving word of the raid.

"I acknowledges the concerns regarding the presence of ICE agents at Abby’s Bakery," Flores said. "However, we recommend reaching out directly to ICE for any updates on this matter. As this is an ongoing issue, we are unable to speculate at this time. I do agree that this doesn't look good and since ICE is not putting out any statements, we are left to speculate. My prayers are with Mr Leonardo Baez and his family during this difficult time. This is very frustrating."

These arrests come just a few weeks after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted “targeted operations” in the Rio Grande Valley and just a few days after the U.S. Border Patrol swore in 300 National Guard troops and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers as part of Operation Southern Shield.

Those troops entered into a memorandum of understanding that allows them the jurisdiction to now arrest immigrants crossing into the U.S. illegally.

Our Reporter Jorge Vela has been following the situation in Los Fresnos and will bring you the fill story on the crackdown on immigration happening tonight.