A United States citizen who was banned from Mexico and wed his Mexican fiancée during a special event at the border last month has been revealed as a convicted drug smuggler, and border agents are furious.
They say they were tricked into providing “armed security for a cartel wedding.” Brian Houston was all set to marry Evelia Reyes during the "Door of Hope" event after passing a federal background check. He requested the ceremony because he said he couldn't cross into Tijuana.
It turns out he's banned from Mexico because he's a convicted drug smuggler and his awaiting his sentencing in San Diego Federal Court. He was caught with 43 pounds of heroin, 47 pounds of methamphetamine, and 43 pounds of cocaine back in February.
“The agents are upset, feel like they were taken advantage of, feel like they were duped. Turns out we provided armed security for a cartel wedding.”
This was the first ever wedding ceremony to happen at the "Door of Hope" event where the steel border gate opens for an hour every year, allowing people to meet their friends or family on the other side for a few minutes.
Houston said after his wedding:
"It’s a statement that love has no borders."
The "Door of Hope" event is under scrutiny after what happened. Participants go through a screening process before the ceremony, and somehow Houston's conviction did not show up.