Thread: TN-Officers find 18 illegal immigrants in stolen van

Officers find 18 illegal immigrants in stolen van

April 7, 2010 6:25 PM ET

KINGSTON, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee investigators said they have discovered 18 illegal immigrants and arrested the driver of a stolen California van in intercepting a human smuggling operation west of Knoxville.

Roane County investigator John Sanchez said a drug task force officer spotted the passenger van eastbound on Interstate 40 about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

A drug team statement said the van was traveling "recklessly."

The statement says the investigation revealed a "human smuggling operation" that started in Houston and was en route to an unknown location in New York.

The driver, Juan Curios Vega Hernandez of North Hills, Calif., was being held at the Roane County Jail on a theft charge. Sanchez said there was no lawyer hired. Federal agents detained the passengers, including a teenager.



http://www.wmctv.com/global/story.asp?s=12273127

Updated: 6:28 PM Apr 8, 2010
Is Knoxville on the human smuggling superhighway
A traffic stop leads police to 18 illegal aliens on what's being called the human smuggling superhighway.
Posted: 6:18 PM Apr 8, 2010
Reporter: Mario Boone

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- A traffic stop on I-40 in Roane County Wednesday led lawmen to a human smuggling operation.

The practice is so common on East Tennessee interstates, the area has become known as the human smuggling superhighway.

"This is the main travel corridor for those two sections of the country and it comes right through Knoxville," said Lt. Don Baird of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Federal agents arrested the driver of a stolen passenger van, Juan Hernandez. But inside the van, 18 illegal aliens, including a juvenile, bound for New York.

"All over the country we're having instances like this that pop up from time to time," said I.C.E. spokesman Temple Black.

11 of the illegals are being held in Alabama, five agreed to leave the country, and the juvenile was taken to Chicago. Hernandez remains locked up in Roane County.

"Ice is one of the primary federal agencies responsible for combatting human trafficking," according to Black.

I-75 runs from South Florida to the Canadian border, while I-40 runs from North Carolina's coast to California.

Given the high volume of human smuggling, cops in East Tennessee now have red flags to look for.

"If you've got a 15 passenger van and you've got 25 people in it you might want to look a little further," said Baird.

As for the 18 arrested Wednesday, I.C.E. says they're backgrounds were thoroughly checked.

"All the records were checked, they were photographed, they were fingerprinted, all the databases were searched and there were no warrants outstanding," said Black.

http://www.volunteertv.com/news/headlines/90287377.html

Added to Homepage:
http://www.alipac.us/article-5107--0-0.html

Is Knoxville on the human smuggling superhighway

Most definitely. On 1-75, from Cobb County,GA (287g), Atlanta to Dalton (287g), Chattanooga to Cleveland,TN, Bradley County (CAP) , to Knoxville, law enforcement will tell you about the drug and illegal alien corridor. Document mills in Bradley County,TN provide many of the fake and stolen identities to illegal aliens in East Tennessee. The long white vans shuttle illegal aliens to local restaurants and businesses, and the illegal aliens are harbored in homes by the owners of the businesses. The illegals rarely leave the premises to walk outside, and the visits to the video store or Super Center occur following work. It is weird to see 18 people, mixture of Asian and Hispanic, exit a 3 bedroom single family home, and climb into a "clown" van. Modern day slavery, Americans without jobs, and ICE just ignores the situations. Cities ignore housing code, provide sanctuary, and businesses and illegal aliens just go about their illegal doings.

There is a much more visible presence of Georgia and Tennessee Highway Patrol, and local Sheriff Departments along I-75.

2 Chronicles 7:14

It is written,... if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

"If you've got a 15 passenger van and you've got 25 people in it you might want to look a little further," said Baird.

Ut Oh, could be racial profiling.