Thread: Despite crackdown, smugglers abound

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/03 ... _16_06.txt

Despite crackdown, smugglers abound

By: J. STRYKER MEYER - Staff Writer

For an example of how severely out of control our borders are and how anyone can smuggle anything into our country, go to the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe.

The center's Public Relations Manager John Van Zante circulated a news release Thursday detailing how someone left a duffle bag containing 26 smuggled puppies at the border, and now, those poor little pooches are in need of housing, love and all of the other amenities that dogs need.

Thanks to the good people at Helen Woodward Animal Center, these 26 puppies will at least get started on the right paw with health exams, vaccinations and neutering. Microchips also will be installed before they are adopted.

On a human level, I called T.J. Bonner, the National Border Patrol Council president ---- the union head for all Border Patrol agents ---- to check out the latest word on the ever-increasing number of illegal immigrants who continue to flood into our country.

The news from Bonner is bad ---- and getting worse. Since the summer of 2004, Border Patrol agents have not actively patrolled North County streets looking for and apprehending people who have entered the United States illegally. During that summer, Border Patrol agents had the nerve to perform their duty, apprehending illegal entrants in Ontario during an enhanced enforcement effort.

The outcry against the Border Patrol was sudden and shrill, ultimately reaching the halls of power in Washington, D.C., where then-Undersecretary for Border Transportation and Security Asa Hutchinson ordered the Border Patrol to cease such operations and to back off from interior enforcement of U.S. immigration laws.

With that less-than-brilliant order issued, the efforts of Border Patrol agents were redirected to the borders and to the two checkpoints on Interstates 5 and 15.

Bonner said the San Diego sector has seen an increase in the number of people trying to enter the country illegally.

"As the apprehensions increase, the powers-that-be have transferred dozens of agents from San Diego to Arizona at a time when the Arizona detention numbers are decreasing," he said. "Trust me, the smugglers have figured this out."

And, as American soldiers fight the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Border Patrol is seeing a marked increase in the number of people who enter the country in a category dubbed: "Other Than Mexican."

"Overall, OTM apprehensions are up 19 percent, despite all the tough talk from the administration. ... Thus, our country remains susceptible to terrorists because it's easier than ever for them to illegally enter our country. When will the administration wake up to this harsh reality? Do we need another 9/11 catastrophe before anyone does something sensibly?"

Contact staff writer J. Stryker Meyer at (760) 901-4089 or jmeyer@nctimes.com.

I found this article about human smugglers in Charlotte, NC:

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/8073959/detail.html
FBI Investigates Possible Human Smuggling

POSTED: 11:13 pm EST March 16, 2006


CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- FBI agents were checking Thursday night to see if a network of human smugglers is operating in Charlotte.

Earlier this month, police arrested Carlos Martinez-Perez and Ignacio Vasquez-Rios. Officers said the men used a pick-up truck to bring illegal immigrants from Arizona to Charlotte. Police found Martinez-Perez and Vasquez-Rios in a north Charlotte apartment complex as they dropped off five illegal immigrants. "I think the way people are being treated is like cattle," said latino activist Pat Martinez. "Those that are transporting and taking advantage of people that are desperately trying to get into the United States for whatever reason should be heavily penalized."

Martinez-Perez and Vasquez-Rios were being held Thursday night as federal prisoners in the Mecklenburg County Jail. They were expected to be deported back to Mexico.