Washington, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) issued the following statement regarding Gilmer Hernandez, a rural Texas deputy sheriff who was prosecuted and sentenced to prison for shooting at the tires of a fleeing van carrying Mexican illegal aliens. Hernandez returned home Monday after 10 months behind bars.

“I am happy that Gilmer Hernandez is finally back at home with his family, but this case has bothered me from the start. Both the prosecution and the sentence seem terribly harsh. 

“My belief is that local law enforcement on the border is stretched thin and often performs very dangerous work. They should be given the benefit of the doubt. 

“Congress needs to do more to make sure that those wishing to enter America respect our laws, so that our border agents and local law enforcement need not fear our laws,” said Brady.

Hernandez, 26, cannot serve in law enforcement again because of the conviction, and plans to work locally for the phone company.