Thread: 19 Illegals Crammed in 1 Van Intercepted in Vegas

http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_3489477
Ontario, CA, 2/9/2006

19 Illegal immigrants in one van intercepted on road to Vegas
By Jannise Johnson, Staff Writer

RANCHO CUCAMONGA - A call from a concerned family member led to the discovery of several Mexican nationals crammed inside a van Tuesday evening.

Jose Carrera of Los Angeles called 911 while driving behind the van carrying his cousin as it headed east on the 10 Freeway from Azusa, said California Highway Patrol Sgt. Tom Graham.

California Highway Patrol officers with the Rancho Cucamonga office responded to the northbound 15 Freeway just north of Kenwood Avenue in San Bernardino at 9:51 p.m., said CHP Sgt. Mark Shaffer.

Carrera reported to officers that his cousin made a deal with smugglers, but the arrangement had gone wrong.

"The deal went bad and the coyotes took the cousin by force, possibly using a weapon," Shaffer said.

Once officers stopped the van, they found 19 illegal immigrants inside, Shaffer said.
The Mexican nationals did not appear to have been harmed and officers did not recover any weapons, he said.

There was "no discernible information in that area," Shaffer said, "nothing to suggest that they were in bad shape or anything."

The occupants ages ranged from 15 to 19 for the females and 18 to 25 years old for the men, said CHP officer John Meaders. Approximately half the Mexican nationals were male and half were female.

The occupants told officers they were headed to Las Vegas and Colorado to find work, Meaders said.

The suspected smuggler, a Los Angeles man, told officers the occupants began their journey from Mexico about six months ago, Meaders said.

CHP requested assistance from their Special Enforcement Unit. Shortly after those officers arrived, the immigrants were turned over to Border Patrol.

"They were taken into custody from CHP," said Michael Bermudez, senior patrol agent and public information officer with the Border Patrol's San Diego office. "They were all given voluntary return back to Mexico."

Mexican nationals may opt for voluntary returns if they don't have a criminal background, or if they have what Bermudez termed a "minimal" criminal history. By doing so, they waive a deportation hearing.

Andy Ramirez, chairman of the Friends of the Border Patrol, was pleased to learn CHP assisted in sending a group of illegal immigrants back to their native country.

"We need to see more of that," Ramirez said.

He said greater cooperation between state and local law enforcement and the federal government would help solve the problem of so many illegal immigrants getting through to the interior of the country.

Armando Navarro, with the Riverside-based National Alliance for Human Rights, believes Tuesday's incident is just one more illustration of failing economic policies in both the United States and Latin American countries.

The high poverty rate in Latin America creates desperate people willing to take great risks to come to the United States, he said. Once here, they find a niche for themselves because of the U.S. thirst for cheap labor.

Jannise Johnson can be reached by e-mail at jannise.johnson@dailybulletin.com or by phone at (909) 483-9318.

The employers of illegal aliens are the real enemy of America. Of course the illegal aliens are absolutely at fault, but if not for Americans offering them jobs, they wouldn't be here. We really need to make an effort to shame these American traitors and when possible, turn them in.