The subject of the Mexican-American border is a sensitive one in today's political climate. Debates rage about immigration and more and more illegal drugs and weapons are shipped across the border everyday. But Auburn students R.C. Hagans and his younger brother, Winchester Hagans, found themselves in a border scenario they never thought possible. R.C. and Winchester Hagans, along with their friend Blake Gilbreath, had a van containing 1,000 pairs of shoes seized by the Mexican government.
"The purpose of the trip was to take 1,000 pairs of shoes donated by Soles 4 Souls to my little brother down to a village in Guatemala," R.C. said. "My dad is
a minister in that area and this had kind of been like my brother's pet project."
The ordeal began Feb. 28 when the
Hagans and Gilbreath crossed the border into Mexico at McCallen, Texas.
R.C. said they declared their cargo at the border and were assured they had all of the paperwork they needed to pass through the country and take the shoes to Guatemala.
But two hours after clearing customs, the crew was pulled over by local police in Reynosa, Mexico.
After short deliberation between the multiple police cars on the scene, the Hagans were instructed to proceed to the next checkpoint.
"All of our Mexican friends think we were set-up from the beginning," R.C. said. "They said the cops probably told the people at the checkpoint we were coming."
At the first checkpoint, the group was told they did not have the proper paperwork.
After being held at the checkpoint for two hours, the van and its passengers were driven back to the border by a member of the Mexican federal government.
"It was crazy," R.C. said. "I'm very well-traveled and I've dealt with a lot of governments and a lot of border crossings and I've never had to deal with anything like this."
The Hagans and Gilbreath were held at the border for a total of 12 hours and were forced to sleep in a hotel while the border patrol catalogued the contents of the van.
"Initially, I felt kind of annoyed," R.C. said. "Driving through Mexico is dangerous and we started to realize we weren't going to make it to a town for the night. Then I was pissed off. I couldn't believe they were doing this."
The group was told they would have to pay a $10,000 fine to get their van back.
For every day they did not pay the fine, the fine would increase $2,000 until it reached $70,000 at the end of the month.
"It felt like they gave us a ransom note," R.C. said.
The Hagans and Gilbreath were forced to abandon their van and its load and return to America.
R.C. said he was stunned by the actions of the Mexican law enforcement.
"The mission I work with is one that my dad started," Hagans said. "We've worked there 20 years and we've taken millions of dollars of shoes and supplies down. But this time that didn't really matter."
R.C. said he believes there is extensive corruption throughout all levels of the Mexican government and it is to blame for the loss of his family's van.
"It isn't everyone," R.C. said. "I don't want to say everyone in Mexico is terrible. But it's just rampant, there's no one really to hold anyone accountable and when that happens, people can just take whatever they want."
R.C. said his family has contacted lawyers in Mexico and America, along with their international insurance agent but it appears they will never see their van again.
R.C. said anyone who can offer support or advice to the Hagans family is encouraged to contact them at Winchester.hagans@ymail.com.
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