According to the women, Pineda Castillo, the Mexican National, had lost her passport and tried to cross with other legal credentials. However, this was not made easy as they had both declared in the port of entry form that they were both heading to the same address in Mexico, but when asked, they told immigration officers they were not relatives. They were detained and locked up at the border. While in detention, the women were accosted and sexual advances were made.

Carlos Barrachina – Relative of victim

“An Immigration Officer tried to sexually abuse the Mexican national, at first he touched her legs, then he insinuated that through sexual favours he could allow her into the country and he also made derogatory comments at the same time making physical approaches to the young lady. Of course she did not give in to his request and she was sent to a cell. The Honduran national was locked up for no valid reason as she had a valid visa to Mexico. What I do not understand is to why they were locked up if they had not entered the country yet, they were trying to but in the legal way. In such a case the Mexican national should have been explained that she could not enter the country or a temporary pass could have been issued because she had legal credentials from Mexico. I just cannot understand why she was detained at the border.”

Barrachina claims the women were then extorted some $10,000 Mexican pesos. They believe this was because there seen minutes changing some two thousand US dollars before entering the border area.