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Montenegro introduced Victor Avila Jr. as a retired federal agent, an advocate on border security and human trafficking, and asked him to tell the chamber about his experience. Avila described his career in HSI, saying the agency \"was the merger that happened with the Department of Homeland Security back in 2003,\" and noted that HSI has a presence in 76 countries.

Avila said he was on assignment in Mexico City on Feb. 15, 2011, when he and Special Agent Jaime Zapata were ambushed near San Luis Potosí. He told the House that attackers fired more than 100 rounds at their armored vehicle; Avila said he was struck three times — once in the chest and twice in his left leg — while Zapata sustained fatal wounds. Avila described calling for help after the attack and the prolonged rescue effort; he said a helicopter eventually reached their location after roughly 40 minutes.

\"I am here for one reason. I'm here by the grace of God to be able to even share this story with you,\" Avila said. He recounted working to rescue victims of human trafficking and forced labor, and said those cases, along with weapons and drug trafficking, fall within HSI’s jurisdiction when they have a nexus to the border. \"We must defeat them, we must defeat the criminal illegal aliens that come to our country and do harm,\" Avila said, calling for improved intelligence-sharing and cooperation between U.S. and Mexican authorities.

Avila framed his public remarks around victim rescue, border security and the role of government to provide public safety at all levels: \"The role of government at any level, local, state, and federal, the first responsibility is to provide safety for their citizens. Without public safety, everything kind of else goes out the window,\" he said.

After his remarks, Montenegro thanked Avila for his presentation and told members \"now members, let's get to work,\" as the House moved to its organizational business. Avila said he will continue to work with state and federal partners on intelligence and trafficking issues.

The House transcript records Avila’s account and his offers to cooperate with legislators on intelligence and trafficking matters; Avila’s remarks were part of opening-day ceremonies and a speaker-address slot rather than a floor debate or a bill-specific hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","01/13/2025 - House Floor Session - Opening Day Ceremonies","oneSentenceSummary","Victor Avila Jr., a retired Homeland Security Investigations agent, told the Arizona House about surviving a 2011 ambush in Mexico that killed his colleague Special Agent Jaime Zapata and urged lawmakers to prioritize human trafficking and public safety.","taxTitle","House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Arizona","taxId",15912,"location","Arizona","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6392016,"Arizona House organizes 57th Legislature; Steve B. Montenegro elected speaker, chamber adopts temporary rules and staff",6471,3760,6475100,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2110569-431644f26bba9e0fe0658d7d3fadc754&start=3&end=6475","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2110569-431644f26bba9e0fe0658d7d3fadc754/thumbnail_3760.jpg","/articles/6392016/Arizona/Arizona-House-organizes-57th-Legislature-Steve-B-Montenegro-elected-speaker-chamber-adopts-temporary-rules-and-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6392016-0e5592bc8c9c1524eba6db3b16afbdb1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192715&Signature=POEhl0L7IiIPi3jU76gisCWltB4SyQsburmSORYqPbjttuMNcWmT31jrUvSd9LATKS4G2qDFdiN~rntORsGWy7jpLg8kwWiyKPa0Vv6YhpVvd~NGfeJGGcwyyRi9LcsfN1aEPYOymC639RLxTGTmQ7A7~j7Bz4PVdjyQBq8C6mOgOjbOoG6fXJQPA9TYy6ywvvrnrowMev8e1TMt4FDBBIXOIiFuqQNZ-nemSC8gzx8LKV7T7AhrV4t6eAjzOZLLStaBM6BAxEJgBh6oCeWsuk0qKVbVgK8koFCAATJsogEDaODYdZdqun0CNytgCt3A9StdEbaN-t0oHEYRCiSbUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Arizona House of Representatives organized the 57th Legislature on opening day, electing Steve B. Montenegro as speaker and approving a series of organizational measures including temporary staffing, committee appointments and a set of temporary rules.

The actions set the chamber’s immediate structure and signaled priorities for the new legislative session. Chief Justice Timmer administered the oath of office to members after the credentials committee presented a certification from Secretary of State Adrian Fontes that the listed persons were duly elected on Nov. 5, 2024.

Majority Leader Michael Carbone moved the formation of a five-member credentials committee and named Michael Carbone, Neil Carter, Oscar De Los Santos, Nancy Gutierrez and Julie Willoughby to the panel; that motion was approved by voice vote. The committee presented certification from Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and a majority motion to adopt the committee report was approved. A minority report was filed and entered into the record, the clerk said.

After the oath, the House received nominations for speaker. Majority Leader Michael Carbone nominated Steven B. Montenegro of Legislative District 29; the minority leader seconded the nomination and moved that the nominations be closed and that Montenegro be elected by acclamation. The motion was approved by voice vote, and the clerk recorded Montenegro as duly elected speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives, 57th Legislature.

Steve B. Montenegro, Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives, addressed the chamber after his election. \"It is an honor for me to stand here before you as speaker of this distinguished body,\" Montenegro said, and outlined three themes he hoped would guide the session: preserving the American dream, promoting public safety, and protecting individual rights and liberties. He urged members to engage in \"healthy debate\" while focusing on practical policy goals.

The House also completed a sequence of staffing and procedural actions. Neil Carter was appointed speaker pro tempore. By unanimous consent, Crystal Isvaranu was elected chief clerk of the House; Chuck Fitzgerald was appointed sergeant at arms and Joshua Babel was named deputy chief clerk, all without objection. The House moved and approved proposed amendments to the temporary rules (including changes to rule 9) and then adopted the temporary rules, as amended, by voice vote. The clerk read the personnel of standing committees for the session.

In compliance with a constitutional provision addressing reading requirements, the House declared that bills for the session \"will be read by number and short title only,\" and that third and final readings will be read by number and title only, citing Article 4, Part 2, Section 12 of the Constitution of Arizona. The chamber also appointed a committee to notify the Senate that the House was organized and ready to transact business, and then recessed to allow coordination with the Senate and preparation for the joint session.

The organizational decisions taken on opening day establish who will run the House’s daily business and set procedural rules the chamber will use while it begins substantive work. Several members filed a minority credentials report; otherwise actions proceeded by voice votes or unanimous consent and specific formal roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript provided.","On opening day of the 57th Legislature, the Arizona House of Representatives elected Steve B. Montenegro as speaker, adopted temporary rules and personnel, and approved a credentials report certifying members elected Nov. 5, 2024.","actionData","errors"]

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Retired HSI special agent Victor Avila Jr. recounts 2011 ambush, urges action on human trafficking and cartel violence

Arizona House organizes 57th Legislature; Steve B. Montenegro elected speaker, chamber adopts temporary rules and staff