National battle over immigration puts spotlight on Yuma
BY JONATHAN ATHENS, SUN STAFF WRITER

The battle over illegal immigration from Mexico and the incidence of violent border-related crime is garnering more attention for Yuma County from the national media.

On Wednesday, a television correspondent from the Christian Broadcasting Network's “700 Club” show was en route to Yuma to meet up with the Yuma sector Border Patrol for a story about illegal immigration and border security, said Yuma sector Border Patrol spokesman Michael Gramley.

On Tuesday, an ABC affiliate in Phoenix was here to do a story about the border and in late November 2005, a national news weekly magazine featured a local Border Patrol agent on their cover in conjunction with a story about the border.

Yuma sector Border Patrol agent Ben Vic prominently appeared on the Nov. 28 cover of U.S. News & World Report.

_____

Garcia arraigned for allegedly smuggling pot
FROM STAFF REPORTS

SOMERTON — A man from Mexico was being held in the Yuma County jail Wednesday on $86,000 bond on suspicion of trying to smuggle 108 pounds of marijuana through the U.S. Port of Entry on Saturday.

According to court documents, Garcia, 47, was pulled into the secondary inspection lane of the port at 6 a.m. Saturday. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers discovered that the gas tank of his 1983 Ford pick-up truck was filled with 47 packages of marijuana.

_____

4 involved in 4th Avenue shootout charged
BY JAMES GILBERT, SUN STAFF WRITER

A total of 13 felony charges were filed Wednesday against four people allegedly involved in a gang-related drive-by shooting, one of whom allegedly fired an assault rifle at another vehicle on 4th Avenue.

Victor Manuel Flores, 30, of 10217 Monsoon Ave., who allegedly fired a semi-automatic AK-47 from one vehicle at a rival gang member's car, was charged with drive-by shooting, aggravated assault, endangerment and assisting a criminal syndicate.

Gregorio Reyes, 20, of 1232 S. 5th Ave, No. 15, a passenger in the same car as Flores, was charged with threatening and intimidating, assisting a criminal syndicate and hindering prosecution.

Armando Hernandez, 19, of 715 S. 20th Ave., who was allegedly riding in car with them the night of the incident, was charged with drive-by shooting, aggravated assault, endangerment and assisting a criminal syndicate.

Alejandro Paz, 18, of 1540 W. 9th St., was charged with threatening and intimidating and assisting a criminal syndicate.

_____

Thomas threatens lawsuit against Spanish-language courts

Michael Kiefer
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 5, 2006 12:00 AM Stop Spanish-language DUI court or I'll sue.

That's the message that Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas sent Wednesday to Judge Barbara Rodriguez Mundell, who presides over not only the award-winning Spanish DUI court but also all of Maricopa County Superior Court.

Thomas also insisted that a special DUI court for Native Americans be discontinued as well.

It's a violation of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which deals with equal treatment under the law, Thomas said.

The amendment was intended to keep people from being treated as second-class citizens; the special DUI courts may in fact give preferential treatment to Spanish speakers and Native Americans.

_____

Man killed near border called 'smuggler'

Shooting intensifies immigration debate
By Anna Cearley
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

A Mexican man shot and killed by a U.S. Border Patrol agent has been identified as a people smuggler, adding a new dimension to the heated debate over last week's incident.

The Associated Press quoted a Border Patrol spokesman, Raul Martinez, who is based in the San Diego office, as saying the victim – Guillermo Martínez – was "a known people smuggler who had been detained 11 times prior."

_____

Thursday, January 5, 2006

Bandits increase border violence

A Pima County deputy calls it an epidemic
CLAUDINE LoMONACO
lomonaco@tucsoncitizen.com

Bandits armed with guns easily purchased in the United States are making the border more dangerous for illegal immigrants, law enforcement agents and those who live, work or visit along the border.

Reports of attacks began coming across Mitch Ellis' desk a year ago when he became manager of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, a rugged expanse of mesquite- and prickly pear-studded desert about 60 miles southwest of Tucson along the Arizona-Mexico border.

Just a couple of paragraphs long, they document stories of women raped by masked gunmen and men wounded or killed trying to protect the little money they had.

_____

Mexican criminals turning to U.S. for easy gun purchases

CLAUDINE LoMONACO
lomonaco@tucsoncitizen.com

In mid-November, Mexican police Officer Alan Rodriguez caught a pair of armed bandits who had just assaulted a group of immigrants.

The assault took place in Sasabe, in Sonora, but the .38- and .22-caliber guns, as with most weapons used by border bandits, came from the United States. The two said they'd purchased them in Tucson.

Guns are largely illegal in Mexico and difficult for private citizens to attain. The application process can take years and includes an examination of a person's "moral character" and proven need for a gun.

So criminals turn largely to the United States with its more liberal gun laws.

_____

MS-13 gang not confirmed in area

Daniel Borunda
El Paso Times

Members of the Mara Salvatrucha are believed to have crossed the El Paso-Juárez border, but the internationally notorious street gang has not established itself in the region, authorities said.

"They really haven't gotten roots here" in El Paso, said Sgt. Reggie Moton, head of the police Gang Unit, which monitors more than 400 gangs, tagging crews and other groups in the city.

The Mara Salvatrucha has grown to an international concern as its membership has spread from its birthplace of Los Angeles to throughout Central America and into Mexico.

_____

CBP Today
CBP Today, the official employee newsletter of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, is published monthly by the Office of Public Affairs.

_____

Illegal-immigration foes work to put resolution on ballot

Five bills introduced to curb benefits
By Joe Hanel | Herald Denver Bureau

DENVER - Foes of illegal immigration advanced their fight on two fronts Wednesday when legislators introduced a package of bills and a citizens group moved closer to putting its question on the November ballot.

Former Gov. Richard Lamm threw his support behind the ballot question, which would deny state services to illegal immigrants. It makes exceptions for education and emergency medical care, which are required by federal law.

"I do not think we should be illegal-immigrant friendly in Colorado or the United States," said Lamm, a Democrat.

_____

A Latin Crisis
By Lt. Col. Gordon Cucullu
FrontPageMagazine.com

We are facing a crisis in South America of which few Americans are aware. In 2004-2005, aided by useful idiots such as Jimmy Carter and self-anointed EU poll watchers, Hugo Chavez was able to steal a fraudulent recall election in Venezuela and solidify his hold on the petroleum giant. Within months he moved to expel US military advisors and has placed phenomenally large weapons orders with the Russians. Look for 50 MiG-29s to appear soon, as well as more than 100,000 small arms destined to arm the narco-terrorists in neighboring Colombia. Politically, Chavez has moved to jail, execute, or intimidate the democratic opposition so that he can consolidate power. Now he has an emulator in Bolivia, who has also taken advantage of the democratic process to gain power.

_____

Illegal Mexican suspected as Head of Meth Ring in Nevada

JACLYN O 'MALLEY
JOMALLEY@RGJ.COM

A three-deputy team of narcotics investigators in Lyon County recently made its largest drug bust, showcasing the county's growing methamphetamine "epidemic," authorities said.

Since late December, the Narcotics Division arrested three suspected methamphetamine traffickers and three suspected dealers -- including a 60-year-old man -- after a three-month undercover sting. Deputies also said they recovered a quarter-pound of methamphetamine, valued on the street at more than $36,500.

Miller said the suspected head of the drug ring was Gerrardo Humberto-Mauricio, 23, of Topaz Ranch Estates, an illegal immigrant who's been in Nevada for the past five years.

_____

'Illegal problem is the worst'

Anti-illegal immigrant group plans 'Stop the Invasion' protest in Danbury
By Eugene Driscoll
THE NEWS-TIMES

DANBURY — A controversial anti-illegal immigrant group is planning a "Stop the Invasion" demonstration Saturday at Kennedy Park.

Latino day laborers gather each morning around Kennedy Park, between Kennedy Avenue and Elm Street, hoping to be hired by contractors.

"Hiring illegals at Kennedy Park is a criminal activity. It is against the law," said Paul Streitz, a founding member of Connecticut Citizens for Immigration Control.