Two Honduran nationals were arrested and cited in Nebraska for unlawfully possessing an American bald eagle after they shot the bird to eat it for dinner.
The Stanton County Sherriff’s Office confirmed that Ramiro Hernandez-Tziquin, 20, and Domingo Zetino-Hernandez, 20, both of Norfolk were cited for unlawfully possessing the eagle. Hernandez-Tziquin was also cited for not having a driver's license.
The police received a report about a suspicious vehicle near the Wood Duck State Wildlife Management, and when they arrived, they saw the two Hondurans holding the dead bald eagle. An investigation revealed that the two had shot and killed the protected national bird and stated they planned on cooking and eating the bird. Hernandez-Tziquin and Zetino-Hernandez could not speak English, and the only identification they carried came from the Honduran consulate.
Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger confirmed to the New York Post that officials believe the Hondurans are illegal immigrants after "conferring with the United States Immigration." He described how the Hondurans cut off the eagle’s feet to "make the talons into ornaments."
Unger said he is "very frustrated with the federal government" because they have yet to bring charges against the Hondurans.
In June, a 79-year-old Ohioan had to pay a $10,000 fine and an additional $10,000 to the Fish and Wildlife Service after shooting a bald eagle on his property. Also, in 2017, a 62-year-old Virginia man was sentenced to house arrest for a month and served 100 hours of community service after he killed a bald eagle. Unger explained that the sheriff's department would not be releasing photos of the dead eagle because they are "very graphic" and contain "lots of blood."
Unger suggested that the Hondurans had a difficult way of life, saying that “I’m trying to be as politically correct as possible when I say this, but I don’t know what kind of third-world life they’re coming from, but it must have been pretty bad.” He noted that locals in the county are “quite upset, and they wish something could be done.”
The fact that these men killed a bald eagle is a heinous act, and it is a shame that the federal government has yet to bring charges against them. Killing an American bald eagle is a crime and is punishable by law. It is unacceptable that these men, who are believed to be illegal immigrants, killed an endangered bird that is also an emblem of the United States of America.
The federal government needs to act swiftly and bring charges against the Hondurans. It is important that they face the highest degree of prosecution for committing such a terrible crime. Bald eagles are protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and it is crucial that law enforcement agencies enforce these laws to the fullest extent possible.
We cannot tolerate people who blatantly disregard our laws and disrespect our nation's symbols. The American bald eagle represents our nation's freedom and strength, and killing one is an attack on those values. The federal government must act now to hold these men accountable for their actions and send a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated.
Sources: TrendingPolitics, Washington Free Beacon, New York Post
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