Reuters
Mexican gangs terrorize border region: US agents
Wed Mar 1, 2006 3:27 PM ET

By Alan Elsner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Armed gangs dressed in military uniforms often illegally cross the U.S.-Mexico border, providing cover for the trafficking of drugs and illegal aliens into the United States, a Senate panel heard on Wednesday.

U.S. government officials and sheriffs from border areas told lawmakers these intruders were becoming more sophisticated and ruthless, often clashed with U.S. Border Patrol agents and committed crimes in the United States.

"We are indeed aware of criminal organizations that wear military-style uniforms, use military-style equipment and weapons and employ military-style vehicles and tactics while conducting illegal activity in border areas," Border Patrol chief David Aguilar told a joint hearing of the Senate subcommittees on immigration and terrorism."

The Border Patrol has intercepted over 400,000 aliens trying to cross the border in the first two months of this year, compared to around 100,000 a month -- 1.2 million -- last year. About 10 percent of those caught had criminal records.

That's 40,000 with crinimal records caught so far this year!!!!! How many have not been caught? -mm