Grassley, Ernst Seek Updates on Efforts to Recover Missing Iowan in Mexico

09.03.2024

BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA - U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) today wrote U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar to request a briefing and regular updates on the embassy's efforts to recover Iowan Chris Leguisano. Leguisano was reported missing on August 10, 2024 after traveling to deliver a vehicle to a family member in Mexico, where she was reportedly kidnapped for ransom. In addition to a briefing within the week, Grassley and Ernst are seeking rolling updates on what federal agencies are doing to bring Leguisano home.

"The United States cannot and will not tolerate the assault of its citizens while traveling abroad," the Iowa senators wrote. "By all public accounts, Ms. Leguisano's kidnap was an act of extortion. An attack of this nature on a United States citizen is an affront to the United States."

Read the senators' letter HERE and below.

September 3, 2024

VIA ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION

The Honorable Ken Salazar

U.S. Ambassador to Mexico

Embassy of the United States of America

Av. P.º de la Reforma 305

Cuauhtémoc, 06500 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

Dear Ambassador Salazar:

We write to request a status briefing and regular updates on the embassy's efforts to recover Iowan Chris Leguisano and to bring her kidnappers to justice. On August 10, 2024, Chris Leguisano's son reported her missing to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.[1] Ms. Leguisano traveled to Mexico to deliver a truck to a family member. While in Tamaulipas, Mexico, she was kidnapped for ransom.[2]

This is now the second high-profile assault of an American citizen in Tamaulipas in the last two years. In March 2023, four Americans lawfully traveling to Mexico came under cartel gunfire in Tamaulipas.[3] Only two Americans survived. They were found in a wooden house with the bodies of their travel companions.

The United States cannot and will not tolerate the assault of its citizens while traveling abroad. By all public accounts, Ms. Leguisano's kidnap was an act of extortion. An attack of this nature on a United States citizen is an affront to the United States.

Please provide rolling updates on the recovery of Ms. Legusiano as soon as they become available, with a progress report within the week.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Grassley

Joni K. Ernst

cc: Christopher A. Wray

Federal Bureau of Investigation

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