FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The mother of a Marine from Weston who has been jailed in Mexico since March talked to Local 10 News reporter Liane Morejon at the airport Tuesday morning.
Jill Tahmooressi left from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on her way to attend a hearing for her son.
Andrew Tahmooressi was arrested after being detained at the border into Tijuana, Mexico on the night of March 31. He was in possession of three legally purchased firearms, but insists he did not mean to cross the border.
"This will be Andrew's first opportunity to explain the whole course of events," his mother told Local 10 News Tuesday. According to Tahmooressi, her son told customs agents he had made a wrong turn but they would not let him turn around and arrested him instead. She credits improper and confusing signage for his mistake.
"It was literally a wrong turn that close to the [American] border and he was held captive and a prisoner to Mexico now going on our fourth month."
Tahmooressi has a return flight scheduled for Thursday, but hopes to be returning sooner, with her son at her side.
"I'm hoping the judge will just dismiss the charges for what it is - an accidental entry - no intention to be on Mexico soil with his U.S.-legally purchased firearms," she said.
To learn more about Andrew Tahmooressi's case, click here.