BROWNSVILLE — A federal judge Friday morning granted bonds to the owners of a Los Fresnos bakery who were arrested on harboring charges Wednesday.
Leonardo Baez and Nora Alicia Avila-Gruel appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen Betancourt in Brownsville federal court where they each received $100,000 bonds with $15,000 cash deposits.
The married couple, who own Abby’s Bakery and Dulce’s Cafe, is charged with harboring eight people illegally present in the country.
During the hearing, Special Agent Dillon Duke testified that a tip that came into a Homeland Security Investigations tip line in December resulted in an investigation being initiated.
Then, on Feb. 12, HSI special agents encountered Baez and Avila-Guel at the bakery and found eight people who were in the country illegally, according to a complaint.
Duke, however, clarified during testimony that apparently six of the individuals held temporary visas. It’s unclear whether they overstayed. Duke said two were in the country illegally.
The complaint said that on Feb. 12, the owners admitted to knowing the people were in the country illegally.
Duke testified that they told him that they knew a day like this was coming.
According to Duke, the people stayed in a small, rectangular room called “Unit 5” that was on the side of the property. He said the room had six beds and two bathrooms. He also said that the people were paid $8 an hour.
Sergio Villarreal, who represents Baez, argued that while the people in the country illegally were employed, the couple wasn’t harboring because they weren’t trying to hide them, weren’t keeping them against their will and because they were free to leave the premises at any time.
Villarreal said for the harboring charge to apply, there needed to be covertness. Betancourt, the judge, however, found probable cause during the hearing.
After the hearing, Villarreal described his client’s arrest as political.
“This is scary. They are setting a precedent for what’s going to happen in the area. This feels like a political raid,” Villarreal said.
He also described Baez and Alicia-Gruel as resilient.
“They just want to get back to work,” he said. “They’re scared of this political situation.”
David Avila, Avila-Gruel’s brother, spoke on behalf of the family following the hearing.
“They are hard working people who are very involved in the community,” he said. “All we ask for is respect at this time.”