Yuma-area Latinos say immigration solution complex
BY MICHELLE VOLKMANN, SUN STAFF WRITER

Illegal immigration is wrong and it needs to stop, area Latino leaders said.

"We waited our turn before we moved here," said Carlos Figari, a Yuma businessman.

"Just because you jumped the fence and expect people to accept you is not right. If you don't like the country, you can come back the same door that you came in."

Figari immigrated from Argentina to the United States with his family when he was 14 years old. Figari said he feels strongly about obeying laws and illegal immigration jeopardizes the entire system.

Figari is not alone. He, along with many area Latinos, break the stereotype that all Latinos are in favor of illegal immigration.

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Bill passes applying trespassing law to illegal immigrants
By PAUL DAVENPORT
Associated Press Writer

PHOENIX (AP) -- Two days after a big immigration march in Phoenix, the Arizona Legislature on Wednesday approved legislation to make illegal immigrants subject to the state's criminal trespassing law.

The Senate approved the bill on a 17-12 vote and the House followed with a 33-27 vote, with both Republican-led chambers voting nearly along party lines.

Supporters of the bill contend it would provide "a second line of defense" behind the Border Patrol by enabling state and local law enforcement officers to arrest illegal immigrants who now are often released.

"This is a tool that law enforcement will use in a case-by-case basis. I do not envision large roundups," said Sen. Chuck Gray, R-Mesa.

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Border bandit caught here gets four years in prison
BY BLAKE SCHMIDT, SUN STAFF WRITER

A Mexican illegal alien who Border Patrol agents found hiding in some brush near the border with a loaded shotgun was recently sentenced to four years in federal prison.

Lorenzo Gonzalez-Valles, who pled guilty to one felony count of alien in possession of a firearm, was what Border Patrol Rick Hays called a "border bandit."

"The purpose of him sitting in the bush with shotgun was to victimize those coming across the border," Hays said.

Along with the increasing number of illegal immigrants crossing the border in the Yuma Sector has come an corresponding increase in "bandit activity."

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