DEL RIO, TX — A nationwide manhunt, which began after a violent shooting in Florida, has brought renewed attention to the role of humanitarian organizations in facilitating the movements of illegal migrants. Two Cuban brothers, Jaroscar Chavez Silva, 36, and Roshiel Chavez Silva, 30, were arrested in New York after Del Rio police, in collaboration with a local non-profit humanitarian organization, tracked their path across multiple states.
The brothers, both seeking asylum in the U.S., were wanted in connection with an attempted murder involving a firearm in Orlando. They fled Florida and remained on the run for over two weeks before being apprehended at a migrant shelter in Queens, New York. Their case underscores concerns about the current U.S. immigration system, where migrants who enter the country illegally and claim asylum are often released pending court hearings, which may take years to occur.
The situation unfolded when the Del Rio Police Department (DRPD) was contacted by detectives from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) in Florida on September 17, 2024. Using GPS data, DRPD identified the suspects’ vehicle at a location in Del Rio. However, the car was unoccupied when officers arrived. Further investigation, including surveillance footage and witness statements, revealed that the brothers had been seen in the area days earlier, on September 14.
As part of its investigation, DRPD contacted Tiffany Burrow, Operations Manager of the Val Verde Humanitarian Border Coalition, a local nonprofit that aids illegal migrants (who all claim asylum) entering the U.S. Burrow confirmed that the brothers had left Del Rio by bus, first heading to San Antonio, Texas, and then to Newark, New Jersey. The information was passed to OCSO and the U.S. Marshals Service, which launched a nationwide search, culminating in the brothers' arrest in Queens, New York, on October 3. They were found still in possession of a handgun.
Tiffany Burrow, Operations Manager of the Val Verde Humanitarian Border Coalition, who advised Del Rio police that the suspects had boarded a bus and departed Del Rio, traveling first to San Antonio, Texas, and then on to Newark, New Jersey.
Both brothers had entered the U.S. illegally, with Jaroscar crossing in March 2022 through San Luis, Arizona, and Roshiel entering through Brownsville, Texas, in May 2023. Each had claimed asylum and was awaiting hearings scheduled for as far off as 2025. Their pending asylum cases are now overshadowed by serious criminal charges of attempted murder in Florida.
This case brings into focus broader concerns raised by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton regarding the involvement of NGOs in facilitating illegal immigration. Paxton has long voiced opposition to the role these organizations play in what he describes as enabling an "illegal migrant invasion."
The Val Verde Humanitarian Border Coalition, which provided key information leading to the brothers' capture, should be under scrutiny, as Paxton's office has been investigating several NGOs for their role in aiding and abetting illegal immigration. The Attorney General has highlighted similar concerns in his ongoing legal battle against "Annunciation House," an NGO based in El Paso, which Paxton’s office claims actively violates U.S. immigration law.
Earlier this year, Paxton attempted to shut down Annunciation House, accusing the organization of illegally transporting migrants and obstructing law enforcement. The case was dismissed by a district judge, but Paxton vowed to appeal, stating, “For too long, Annunciation House has flouted the law and contributed to the worsening illegal immigration crisis at Texas’s border with Mexico.”
The involvement of organizations like the Val Verde Humanitarian Border Coalition and Annunciation House in assisting asylum seekers raises questions, with Paxton arguing that such groups are directly involved in the unlawful entry of migrants into the country. The case of the Chavez Silva brothers, now in custody and facing extradition to Florida, is likely to fuel the scrutiny of the role of NGOs in facilitating illegal immigration.
While the humanitarian coalition’s efforts helped law enforcement capture two violent fugitives, the broader question remains: are these organizations providing necessary humanitarian aid, or are they facilitating illegal immigration at the expense of public safety? \
Jaroscar Chavez Silva, 38 (right), a Cuban national, was hit with gun charges after getting busted at a shelter in Queens, New York. He and his brother, Roshiel, 30, also a Cuban national, are wanted for attempted murder in Florida.
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Thank you kamala for opening the border for the last FOUR YEARS.
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