Hearing For Orozco Motion Set For April 22

Froid’s Roberto Orozco-Ramirez filed a motion March 19 to dismiss a charge of illegal re-entry and lawyers for the government have responded. Orozco has been in custody since Jan. 25, following his surrender to authorities.

Illegal re-entry carries a possible penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Government lawyers asked on March 30 for time to file a response to the motion, stating, “Additional time is needed to fully brief the issues presented in the Motion to Dismiss.”

At press time, March 31, sources within the Orozco family confirmed that a hearing has been set for April 22 at 2:30 p.m. in Great Falls. Froid area residents are again planning to travel to support Orozco and his family at the hearing. “Please we need all people possible to attend,“ stated Yoana Lazcano Orozco in a recent social media post. More than 10 percent of Froid’s population made the 700-mile round trip to Great Falls for Orozco’s initial appearance Jan. 28.

Democratic lawmakers have called on Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy and Reps. Troy Downing and Ryan Zinke for a private bill to give Orozco a legal path to stay with his family. “He is a father, a business owner, and a cornerstone of this community,” said Montana State Sen. Cora Newman and Rep. James Reavis in a March 30 social media post. “Congress has used this tool for exactly these situations for generations.”