A transborder wedding that caught the Border Patrol and a human rights organization off guard has been blamed by Homeland Security officials as the reason a border gate will no longer open.
Not everyone is buying the explanation.
Enrique Morones, the executive director of Border Angels and organizer of the “Door of Hope” project, said the wedding had nothing to do with the Border Patrol’s decision and was merely a cover story.
“(Border Patrol Sector Chief, Rodney Scott) is against it,” said Morones. “He didn’t want to open the door in Imperial Valley when he was chief there, so there’s no surprise he doesn’t want to open it here. But I guarantee that we will open the door again in the future.”
Morones said the Border Patrol was “annoyed” by the unannounced wedding, but “deeply embarassed” when it learned the groom has pleaded guilty to drug smuggling.
Last February Brian Huston was caught attempting to smuggle 43 pounds of heroin, 43 pounds of cocaine and 47 pounds of methamphetamine into the U.S. through the San Ysidro Port of Entry. He pleaded guilty to three felonies in May and is awaiting sentencing.
Huston and Evelia Reyes surprised Border Patrol officers and Border Angels volunteers when they showed up to the event dressed in a suit and white gown ready to get married. Morones said he was told by Huston they were going to exchange engagement rings, but he did not know they planned to wed.
“When I asked the Border Patrol agents for their permission to exchange rings they said okay,” said Morones.
Huston and Reyes were married by a priest who attended the event.
Morones said he was “unpleasantly surprised” to find out about Huston’s legal issues. Blame falls squarely on the Border Patrol for failing to vet Huston’s application to participate in Door of Hope, he said.
“It’s a shame that it had happened,” he said. “I can’t believe that the Border Patrol failed to do a background check on this guy.”
Border Patrol Agent Theron Francisco said a review of Huston’s background did not indicate criminal activity.
“The surprise wedding aroused agents’ suspicions,” he said. “After the ceremony, additional database queries were completed that revealed Mr. Houston’s arrest for drug smuggling.”
Doors of Hope is a periodic series of humanitarian events where the international border gate at Frienship Park west of the San Ysidro Port of Entry is briefly opened to allow pre-selected family members living on the opposite sides of the border to hug and visit for three minutes. Previous openings had gone smoothly and had generated enormous amounts of good will for the Border Patrol, Morones said, and the INS was considering similar events in Arizona and Texas.
After Door of Hope meetings were cancelled, the Border Patrol also changed its policies related to visiting Friendship Park. The Nixon-era park was open for visitors on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Families who live on the different sides of the border could see loved ones through the perforated fence.
New rules limit park visits to 30 minutes and only 10 people are allowed to be at the area at a time. They also ban photography and video, and block access to the binational garden. Border Patrol spokesperson would not discuss the reasons for the policy change.
Former San Diego Mayor and U.S. Congressman Bob Filner helped Morones organize the first door opening in 2013 on the Binational Day of the Child. A father and daughter who had never met in person hugged for the first time. Border Patrol has opened the massive steel door six times since.
Applicants were required to complete a questionaire by Border Patrol.
Morones forwarded applications to the U.S. Customs and the Border Patrol was charged to conduct background checks.
More than 50 families applied for the Nov.18, event and 12 were approved.
Francisco said approval did not include weddings.
“It is highly unlikely if the ceremony was requested that it would have been permitted,” he said. “This unauthorized event has now led to the cancellation of future events and the continued opening of the border wall door.”
Morones said a border opening event is still scheduled for May 12 near El Paso, Texas.
Interested applicants may contact Border Angels, he said, and volunteers will help put them in touch with Texas officials.
