Governor Greg Abbott today declared a State of Disaster for all Texas counties in the midst of violent protests that endanger public safety and threaten property loss and damage. Under this declaration, the Governor has the ability to designate federal agents to serve as Texas Peace Officers.
“Every Texan and every American has the right to protest and I encourage all Texans to exercise their First Amendment rights,” said Governor Abbott. “However, violence against others and the destruction of property is unacceptable and counterproductive. As protests have turned violent in various areas across the state, it is crucial that we maintain order, uphold public safety, and protect against property damage or loss. By authorizing additional federal agents to serve as Texas Peace Officers we will help protect people’s safety while ensuring that peaceful protesters can continue to make their voices heard.”
Explore the wonders of space exploration when Space Center Houston, the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center, reopens with exclusive members-only Welcome Back Days June 28-30 and to the public beginning July 1.
Following state, local and CDC guidelines, the nonprofit will safely welcome back guests with new exhibits, spacious outdoor experiences and additional health and safety measures at the forefront of its daily operations.
“We have been diligently working to enhance our guest experience while implementing additional health and safety procedures,” said William T. Harris, president and CEO of the science and space exploration learning center. “When guests return to Space Center Houston, we want you to feel safe and inspired through our authentic science learning experiences.
The nonprofit will have new protocols in place including social distancing practices, special hours for vulnerable populations, guests and employees will be asked to wear face coverings, self-scan turnstiles, sanitizing stations, plexiglass shields at ticket counters; and a one-directional experience through its galleries. Guests will book a timed admission ticket for entry to the museum, and daily capacity will be limited. The timed admission tickets on-sale date will be announced, along with a thorough visitor guide, on its website in the coming weeks.
When the center reopens, guests will be among the first to experience its newest permanent exhibit, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket (opened in March), displayed outside the center. Guests can walk around and underneath the first-stage booster spanning more than 156 feet long. It is the only Falcon 9 on public display outside of SpaceX’s headquarters and is the same type of rocket that will launch NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft on May 27 for the Demo-2 mission, marking the first time since 2011 that astronauts have launched from American soil. Guests can also take a tour of the spacious Independence Plaza exhibit, the only place you can walk inside a shuttle replica mounted on top of the historic shuttle carrier aircraft NASA 905.
Following current state guidelines, its theaters will be temporarily closed, however, the center is adding new live shows in open spaces to bring science and space to life for people of all ages.
The center plans to reopen with one of its most popular experiences, the NASA Tram Tour, which will take guests to the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility, where astronauts train for current missions and Rocket Park, where an actual Apollo Saturn V rocket is on display. In addition to a timed admission ticket, guests will reserve a free virtual boarding pass to book a time to experience the NASA Tram Tour.
All Space Center Houston experiences are subject to change while the center continues to monitor state and local health and safety guidelines for reopening. Until Space Center Houston reopens, enjoy a variety of its expanded virtual learning experiences through its new digital resources page at www.spacecenter.org/resources. To stay up to date on reopening procedures and a ticket on-sale date, follow Space Center Houston on its social media pages and sign-up for its newsletter at spacecenter.org.
Domingo Garcia, National President of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) today issued the following statement:“Minneapolis is ablaze because the anger of a community has been lit. LULAC urges our communities to end the civil disturbance because two wrongs do not make one right.Bad police officers need to be held accountable for murder or attempted murder just like everyone else for not affording people their Constitutional Rights. The bad police officers give the good police officers a bad reputation. Good police officers need to help de-escalate situations with brown and black men. We too felt the knee upon our necks as George Floyd pleaded for his life!I have two sons and I worry about them. I have a brother who is a police officer and I worry about him. A couple of years ago an unarmed black man was killed by Minneapolis police officers. And then, five innocent Dallas police officers were killed by a black man seeking revenge. An eye-for-an-eye leaves everyone blind.Good DA’s and good police chiefs need to arrest and indict the bad cops to let all Americans know that justice is colorblind and fair to all. This must happen now before more violence takes place.”
In an effort to continue to encourage the health and safety of the public and court staff members from the spread of the COVID-19, the City of Houston Municipal Courts Department has extended the suspension of ALL JURY TRIALSthrough August 3, 2020 in conjunction with the Texas Supreme Court’s Order. The Court remains open for all other proceedings.
Members of the public should contact a health care provider and not come to court if they are experiencing symptoms similar to COVID-19. Once cleared by a physician, individuals may visit any City of Houston court location to speak with an Annex Judge to reset a case. Masks/facial coverings must be worn at all times within the courthouse facility. Temperatures will be taken before entry is granted. Please visit the Municipal Courts’ website at www.houstontx.gov/courts for continued updates on all court locations and hours of operation.
If your jury trial was scheduled from June 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020, resets will be given in person at all City of Houston court locations beginning Wednesday, July 1, 2020 through Friday, September 4, 2020 until 5 p.m. Please visit the Municipal Courts’ website at www.houstontx.gov/courts for information on all court locations and hours of operation. It is important to note that if an individual fails to reset their case(s) when Municipal Court resumes operations, an arrest warrant may be issued.
Through August 3, 2020, there will be:NO JURY TRIALS. If you are a DEFENDANT scheduled for jury trial during this period, you do not have to appear. You must reschedule your setting in person no later than Friday, September 4, 2020 until 5:00 p.m., to receive a new court date. All jury trials will resume on Monday, August 3, 2020 unless further notification is provided. It is important to note that if an individual fails to reset their case(s) during the reset period by September 4, 2020, an arrest warrant may be issued.NO JURY DUTY. If you have been scheduled for Jury Duty at the City of Houston Municipal Courts during the period of June 1, 2020-June 19, 2020 at the Central location at 1400 Lubbock or the Westside location at 3202 South Dairy Ashford, you do not have to appear, and you do not have to reschedule your jury service. Jury duty will resume Monday, August 3, 2020 unless further notification is provided. For additional announcements and information please call the City of Houston Helpline at 3-1-1, or 713.837.0311 if outside of the City of Houston, or visit the Municipal Courts website at www.houstontx.gov/courts.
Es probable que para este año 2020 te hayas planteado muchas metas y propósitos personales o laborales. Todos iniciamos el año con la confianza y el optimismo bien recargados para comenzar a trabajar por esos nuevos logros, lo que no imaginamos es que todo daría un giro repentino provocado por el brote inesperado del Covid-19.
Los efectos de la pandemia han llegado a todas las áreas del desarrollo empresarial, industrial y también educativo. Horas de trabajo reducidas, despidos, cierre temporal de negocios no esenciales, y cierre temporal de las escuelas son algunos de estos efectos con los que tenemos que convivir en medio de la crisis generada a nivel mundial.
Si bien es cierto que nadie estaba preparado, también lo es la magnifica capacidad del ser humano para adaptarse rápidamente a los cambios, y uno de los cambios mas notorios en las rutinas de los ciudadanos ha sido “convertir sus hogares en escuelas”.
Esto último se debe principalmente a que cierre de las escuelas en el área de Houston se prolongará hasta el final de este año escolar así lo anuncio el Gobernador Greg Abbott este 17 de abril, lo que quiere decir que los estudiantes no volverán a los campuses hasta el inicio del siguiente ciclo.
Ahora bien, con los chicos en casa y un montón de tareas asignadas, todos los padres y tutores enfrentan un gran desafío en el que deben guiar, orientar y supervisar las actividades de los chicos y además coordinar sus actividades laborales desde la casa, todo esto usando sus computadoras, celulares u otros aparatos. La transición hacia el ambiente virtual será un hecho para muchos de nosotros durante los próximos meses, por ello es nuestro deber suavizar estos cambios para los más pequeños y para la familia en general.
Pero ¿cómo podremos tener escuela, oficina y hogar todo en el mismo sitio? Por complejo que parezca, es posible lograr reacomodar los espacios y adecuarlos para que se ajusten a las nuevas funciones, destinando un lugar para los estudios y tareas de los niños y otro para las labores de oficina o trabajo desde casa. En ambos casos será conveniente disponer de una mesa y una silla cómodas ya que probablemente se utilicen durante varias horas del día.
Aun logrando un espacio adecuado donde puedas organizar los materiales de estudio que se usan con frecuencia, es importante mantenerse en contacto con los maestros y localizar los recursos de aprendizaje de la escuela de sus hijos, aunque la capacidad de desarrollar las actividades virtuales varia de una escuela a otra la mayoría están asignando tareas y actividades para los niños. Esta es una buena oportunidad también para sacar provecho de las múltiples organizaciones que están ofreciendo recursos educativos gratis Online como por ejemplo el portal web www.123homeschool4me. com donde encontrara recursos imprimibles completamente gratuitos para todos los grados escolares.
Pero la realidad es que los únicos que han tenido que emigrar hacia el entorno digital no son solo los más pequeños. Padres, madres, y otros miembros del circulo familiar ahora se ven forzados a trabajar desde la casa, muchos por primera vez y esto puede llegar a ser abrumador y confuso.
Si se trabaja para una empresa, es probable que deba cumplir con un horario establecido por lo que le recomendamos iniciar sus actividades diarias a la misma hora que lo haría si tuviera que ir a su oficina. No es lo mismo gestionar el tiempo de trabajo en tu oficina que hacerlo desde casa donde puede que te distraigas mucho, o por el contrario te excedas en el tiempo que pases sentado frente a la pantalla, por ello expertos como Ellie Wilson, cofundadora del servicio de asistente virtual Virtalent que tiene un equipo de más de 50 trabajadores remotos, recomienda usar la técnica Pomodoro, en la que se debe trabajar intervalos de 25 minutos y descansar 5 minutos. Levantarse de silla, estirarse, tomar agua o comer un snack ayudaran a mantener la energía durante la jornada laboral.
Es vital conversar en familia sobre el funcionamiento de las nuevas rutinas tanto para los chicos como para los adultos, delimitar con claridad cuáles son los espacios para cada actividad es la clave para evitar ser interrumpido constantemente. Si vive en un lugar pequeño y no le es posible crear dos ambientes separados uno para estudios y otro para trabajo, dele prioridad al espacio de estudio de los mas pequeños puesto que los niños tienen una capacidad de atención más breve que los adultos y pueden distraerse rápidamente si, por ejemplo, hacen las tareas sentados en su cama o rodeados de juguetes.
Recuerda además que el tiempo de recreación y esparcimiento es muy importante para el bienestar de todos los integrantes de la familia, así que es una buena idea organizar paseos “virtuales” juntos, y una alternativa es realizar recorridos virtuales. A la fecha muchos museos tienen esta opción disponible en sus páginas web de forma completamente gratuita como por ejemplo el Museo de Luvre en Paris el cual puedes visitar desde tu sofá entrando a este link https://www.louvre.fr/ en/visites-en-ligne, y por su parte Google también ofrece una fantástica opción para visitar no solo museos sino ciudades enteras desde su web https://artsandculture.google.com/.
Mientras el Covid-19 nos ha impuesto el distanciamiento social y confinamiento, también a incrementado las posibilidades de pasar tiempo en familia, sacar provecho de las tecnologías que tenemos a nuestro alcance y desarrollar nuestra creatividad para adaptarnos y reinventarnos en este “new normal”. Encuentra el equilibrio que funcione para todos los miembros de tu hogar sin hacer comparaciones con otras familias, pues lo que nadie sospechaba es que uno de los efectos de la pandemia seria acercarnos a nosotros mismos para mejorar nuestros hábitos familiares y elevar nuestra calidad de vida.
Estamos en un momento de incertidumbre inimaginable. No sabemos cómo adaptarnos a la nueva vida que nos espera, ni qué pasará con la economía y mucho menos con nuestros trabajos. Pero ¿sabías que está comprobado que el 90% de las cosas que nos preocupan no se harán realidad jamás?
En estos días hemos aprendido mucho sobre lavarnos las manos, usar tapabocas al igual que sobre medidas de distanciamiento social. Sin embargo, ¿te has lavado bien la cabeza para filtrar esos pensamientos agobiantes que llegan a atormentarte cuando sientes incertidumbre? Hoy te voy a compartir las 3 técnicas que me han permitido permanecer en calma durante esta inesperada cuarentena:
Técnica #1: Evito la sobre información porque me he dado cuenta que el exceso de información solo incrementa las emociones negativas. Así que si quiero informarme busco fuentes muy confiables y no quiere decir que todo el día voy a leer y ver noticias, ¡no! Separo un momento del día para hacerlo, por lo general lo hago a primera hora del día y espero hasta la mañana siguiente.
Técnica #2: Cuando me llegan pensamientos catastróficos como: “María tú que eres diabética y sobreviviente de cáncer, ¡si te da el COVID-19 no hay Dios que te salve!”, lo primero que hago es cuestionar la validez de esos pensamientos alarmantes y trato de reemplazarlos por algo más racional como por ejemplo “María debes tomar precauciones estrictas por tu condición médica”.
Técnica #3: No propago el miedo. Si visitas mis redes sociales te darás cuenta que no utilizo mis plataformas para hablar de la situación actual que ya todos conocemos, más bien intento distraer a mis seguidores con alegría y motivación. Esto también lo aplico en mi vida personal.
Sé que necesitamos de mucha firmeza para mantener nuestros pensamientos bajo control. No es fácil pero cuando lo hagas vas a tener una vida más tranquila, mayor claridad para tomar decisiones y plenitud sin importar la circunstancias que estés atravesando en tu exterior.
Para más motivación sígueme en: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MariaMarinOnline, Instagram: @mariamarinmotivation, https://www.instagram.com/mariamarinmotivation/
El estudio, a cargo de expertos del Instituto Yeutter de UN en Lincoln junto con el Fondo Carnegie para la Paz Internacional, encontró que la mayoría de los encuestados en los estados mencionados favorece una agilización de los trámites inmigratorios para permitir la llegada de inmigrantes que trabajen en puestos que los ciudadanos o residentes legales dejan vacantes.
Sin embargo, existe una diferencia entre Nebraska y los otros dos estados: aunque en todos los casos el respaldo a inmigración fue similar, los encuestados en Nebraska hablaron con mayor frecuencia y convicción a favor de los inmigrantes que los encuestados en Colorado y en Ohio.
La razón, explica el reporte, es que “la pérdida de población en las zonas rurales de Nebraska hace que esas áreas dependan más en la llegada de inmigrantes internacionales para compensar la falta de trabajadores locales y la disminución de la población”.
El sondeo también encontró que los habitantes de Lincoln y de Omaha (las dos ciudades más populosas de Nebraska) se sienten “orgullosos” de tener más refugiados por persona que cualquier otra área metropolitana en Estados Unidos.
A la vez, Colorado, Nebraska y Ohio estuvieron de acuerdo en dos temas: oponerse a la inmigración ilegal y a las llamadas “fronteras abiertas”, y en aceptar “los desafíos culturales que invariablemente surgen por la llegada de poblaciones de inmigrantes y refugiados”, especialmente a zonas rurales tradicionalmente más culturalmente conservadoras que las ciudades.
A pesar del creciente desempleo en esos tres estados creado por la pandemia del coronavirus, los inmigrantes todavía son necesarios para trabajos de agricultura y de ganadería, dice el reporte, porque los ‘millennials’ no están interesados en esos trabajos, la edad promedio de los trabajadores en zonas rurales es relativamente alta, y desde 2010 se ha incrementado el éxodo de habitantes desde esas áreas hacia las ciudades.
Principalmente en Nebraska, pero también en Colorado y en Ohio, los residentes “ven a las familias inmigrantes como la manera de hacer crecer la población y, así, la manera de mantener o hacer crecer los negocios y las escuelas”, indica el informe.
Aún más, “algunas comunidades habrían muerto y serían ciudades fantasma desde hace mucho tiempo si no hubiese sido por el influjo de inmigrantes”. Y ese fenómeno no se limitó sólo a zonas rurales.
Por ejemplo, durante la última década, en Lincoln el índice de diversidad (es decir, habitantes no blancos) pasó del 24.4% al 31.8%. Y esa tendencia continuará mientras los inmigrantes sean quienes completen la fuerza laboral faltante.
“Para muchos de los entrevistados, la diversidad será una fuente de fortaleza, aunque otros dijeron que habrá conversaciones difíciles sobre raza, cultura e identidad”, dice el reporte.
Otro tema de interés en los tres estados es el cambio climático, pero, mientras en Colorado combatir el cambio climático es una prioridad, no lo es ni en Nebraska ni en Ohio.
By Ruben R. Perez, Ernie’s son, and Ernie’s grandchildren, Matthew R. Perez, Esq. and Adriana Perez, Esq. Ernesto “Ernie” Perez, Sr. was born April 22, 1927 in Pandora, Texas. At the age of one, his family moved to Seguin, Texas where he has remained since. Seguin is where he met and married the love of his life, Susie, and where they raised 4 children. He was married to Susie for 73 years before her passing in 2016. Many of Ernie’s family still reside in Seguin, including numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
As WW II raged, at 18, Ernie was drafted into the Army Air Corps (now known as the Air Force). During his time in the Army Air Corps, he was stationed at various bases in Texas. His last duty station was Randolph Air Force Base (RAFB), and in 1948 he was honorably discharged. The story of Ernie “The Barber” began in 1949 when he attended Louie’s Barbershop School on the GI Bill in San Antonio, Texas.
With a natural talent for cutting hair, Ernie was allowed to take clients in the school’s annex before graduation. He charged 20 cents for a haircut and could keep 5% of his earnings. After graduating, Ernie began his master barber work in Seguin. He would charge 75 cents for a haircut and 50 cents for a straight razor shave. Remembering how often he would need a haircut in the service, Ernie decided to venture to Universal City, Texas. In Universal City, he developed a loyal roster of clients, many of whom still see Ernie today. Having established himself as a talented barber at various shops in Universal City, Ernie decided to open his own shop in 1969. Ernie’s Barbershop, at 415 E. Aviation Blvd., Universal City, Texas opened for business and has remained open for 51 years.
On any given day, you would find Ernie cutting hair and talking fishing Tuesday-Saturday, 8 am-5 pm. There was a 28-year period (1955-1983) that Ernie would drive the 22 miles back home to Seguin, and continued cutting hair at his home barbershop well into the evening. From 1954-1955, on Wednesday evenings, from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm, he would volunteer giving haircuts to boys at Boysville (a place for boys who came from broken homes and abusive situation who were provided a safe caring home) located in San Antonio, Texas.
Ernie has been a Master Barber for 70 years. He has given haircuts to many individuals from all walks of life and from all over the world, including members of the military, professional athletes, children getting their first haircuts, and his own family. Ernie has not only enjoyed providing his customers with haircuts and a precise straight razor shave, but exchanging stories of his favorite hobby: fishing. Ernie considers his customers not just customers, but his dearest friends.
After 70 years of being a barber, Ernie has decided to unplug the clippers and put away the scissors. His passion for barbering is something to be held and is evident by the length of time he dedicated to his craft. After all the years of Ernie’s haircuts, shaves, and fishing stories, Ernie will now devote his time to fishing. His friends, customers and family all wish him a Happy Retirement.
How long have you been in public service, and what do you like most about your duties as a public service?
I have been in public service as a prosecutor at the local, state and federal levels for about 40 years, since I was licensed in November 1980. I have served as an Assistant City of Houston Attorney, a Harris County Assistant District attorney and an Assistant United States Attorney. Currently, I serve as the Bureau Chief of Special Crimes under elected Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg.
As a public servant, my duty is to protect and uphold the Constitution, ensuring that justice is served. I am very proud to be a voice for those who are often voiceless. It is an honor to ensure that regardless of status, every person in our country, is protected under our laws.
Where does Harris County rank compare to other metropolitan areas in the United States in human trafficking?
In my opinion, Harris County has been erroneously labeled as the Human Trafficking Hub of the United States. Harris County has been very proactive in prosecuting human trafficking cases. The Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance, which I co-founded in 2004, combines local, state and federal law enforcement partners with non-governmental agencies to prosecute human traffickers and to rescue and restore victims. Human Trafficking is a global problem. Because we have been very aggressive and successful in prosecuting human traffickers, Houston is perceived to be the Hub of Human Trafficking. I like to think we are the Hub of Human Trafficking Prosecutions, not the Hub of Human Trafficking.
What’s the hardest part about getting a conviction in a human trafficking case? Are victims sometimes reluctant to testify?
One of the hardest parts of prosecution is the actual reporting of the trafficking and the crimes perpetrated against the victims because of the trauma human trafficking victims suffer. Many victims come from impoverished countries, or are lured into the United States under the false pretense of a better life. Once they arrive, they are manipulated into prostitution or hard labor against their will. Victims are constantly threatened with violence to themselves or loved ones. Because of this, many victims become reluctant to report their traffickers and pursue legal action. Often times, victims are unaware they have the right to report their traffickers and the crimes perpetrated against them. If there is no reporting, there is no prosecution.
What happens to an undocumented victim of human trafficking?
For undocumented victims of human trafficking, there are some immigration benefits to those who qualify. To qualify, a person must be a victim of human trafficking and willing to assist in the prosecution of the human trafficker. Benefits include T-Visas, U-Visas and continued presence. A T-Visa is specifically designated for undocumented victims of trafficking. The U- visa is designated for victims of other crimes which includes human trafficking. These visas can grant the applicant victim legal status, work authorization and a pathway to citizenship. The purpose of these visas is not only to provide legal status, but to encourage reporting so that human trafficking criminals can be prosecuted and victims can seek justice.
What are the youngest and oldest victims of sex trafficking have you seen?
Human Trafficking is nondiscriminatory. I have seen ages range from thirteen to the late fifties. The trafficker does not care about the age so long as the victim makes money for the trafficker. I have always said that a human being is more valuable than a kilo of cocaine because once a kilogram of cocaine is consumed, it is gone. On the contrary, a human being, either a male or a female can be recycled again and again, perpetually making more money for the trafficker.
If a person thinks he or she has witnessed sex trafficking, what should that person do?
Any potential witness should call 1-888-373-7888. This is a national hotline to report human trafficking. It is important to note, the hotline is anonymous so no one should fear retaliation for reporting what could be human trafficking.
However, if the person believes the victim is in immediate danger, he or she should call 911.
If a person reading this interview is the victim of human trafficking, what should that person do?
If anyone reading this believes he or she is a victim of human trafficking, please call the hotline (1-888-373-7888) or contact any law enforcement agency. Again, 911 should always be called if there is any indication, however slight, of immediate danger.
What steps should the government take to reduce human trafficking?
First, we should be making victims aware of the rights and protections they have under the laws of our government. Many steps are being taken and continue to be taken to reduce human trafficking. Congress enacted the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) as a protection for victims. It is the most comprehensive federal law enacted to protect victims, both foreign and domestic, of sex trafficking and to prosecute their traffickers. Texas enacted its first Human Trafficking statute in 2003.
I strongly believe, to combat and reduce human trafficking, public perceptions will have to change. Until society can overcome the misconception that human trafficking does not happen in their neighborhoods and the victims of trafficking want to be prostitutes, the battle will continue. The efforts of the justice system, non-governmental organizations, and non-profit organizations to research and document the problem, prosecute human traffickers, rescue and restore victims and educate the community will be steps to reduce human trafficking.
About Ruben R. Perez
Ruben R. Perez is a native of Seguin, Texas and moved to Houston, Texas to pursue his legal career. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1974 from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.
He studied International Law at the London School of Economics, in London, England in 1978. He received his law degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 1980.
Ruben has served Harris County and the Southern District of Texas as a prosecutor for almost 40 years. In 1980 he began his career in Houston as an Assistant City Attorney. In 1981 he made his way to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. He spent 11 years serving as an Assistant District Attorney and was promoted to Chief Prosecutor during his tenure. He prosecuted numerous felonies and death penalty cases. He then became an Assistant United States Attorney in 1992. During his 25 years as a federal prosecutor, his case docket ranged from narcotics, money laundering, public corruption, hate crimes, civil rights and human trafficking. In 2017, he returned to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office under elected Harris District Attorney Kim Ogg where he serves as Bureau Chief of Special Crimes.
As a federal prosecutor, Mr. Perez successfully investigated and prosecuted several high profile human trafficking cases. The following are a few examples of his human trafficking prosecutions. He was the lead prosecutor in the largest human trafficking case ever prosecuted in the continental United States. Over one-hundred victims of human trafficking were rescued and eight defendants were prosecuted. All eight defendants were sentenced to prison sentences. He was also the lead prosecutor in a precedent setting human trafficking case where ten defendants were sentenced to prison and their assets forfeited with the goal of liquidating the forfeited assets to help the victims. He was responsible for the successful prosecution of fourteen defendants (U.S. v. Hortencia Arguello-Medeles aka “Tencha”, et al) who operated a sex trafficking ring. All were convicted and sentenced to prison and fifteen properties with a value of $2.5 million were forfeited with the goal of using these monies to help the victims. The lead defendant was sentenced to life imprisonment. There is one remaining fugitive. There is a $50,000 reward for his capture. This case and the remaining fugitive were featured in “The Hunt” with John Walsh on CNN. He was responsible for the successful prosecution of an international sex trafficking ring. This prosecution involved six defendants. He prosecuted five defendants in 2005. The lead defendant was a fugitive. He was arrested in March 2010 in Mexico. He was extradited to the United States in June 2014 in a precedent setting cooperation of Mexican and American authorities. He was sentenced to 40 years imprisonment.
Since returning to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office as Bureau Chief of the Special Crimes Bureau, he has led numerous investigations and prosecutions cases which have resulted in making our communities safer. When Mr. Perez is not crushing crime, he enjoys spending time with his wife of 42 years and their two children, both of whom are lawyers.
AWARDS • 2019 Joe Campos Torres Justice Award – Mexican American Bar Association • 2004, 2010, and 2013-Director’s Award-Executive Office for United States Attorneys – Department of Justice • 2012 Texas State University Distinguished Alumni Award • Numerous commendations from the FBI, IRS, Homeland Security, Bureau of Prisons and DEA • Tejano Music Hall of Fame Inductee
INSTRUCTING ENDEAVORS • Frequent lecturer on Civil Rights/Narcotics/Human Trafficking and Criminal Justice matters • Human Trafficking International Seminars – Paraguay, Chile, Mexico, Republic of Kyrgyzstan
PUBLICATIONS • “Challenges in Federal Sex Trafficking Prosecution” www.thehoustonlawyer.com
