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  1. #1
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    Federal authorities raid mall in fake ID probe

    Federal authorities raid mall in fake ID probe
    WLS By John Garcia

    April 24, 2007 (CHICAGO) - A federal raid led to a community protest Tuesday in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood. The protest came after federal agents shut down a discount mall during an investigation into the making and selling of phony identification documents.
    Federal agents raided the mall to search for records and evidence.

    The feds may be investigating a phony documents scheme at the Discount Mall at 26th and Albany, however, it is the anti-immigration activists who have taken center stage. The street around the Discount Mall was blocked off once the protest began to grow when the feds first showed up at about 2 p.m.

    "We're executing a search warrant there as part of an ongoing investigation," Rice said. He said the FBI had a search warrant for records, but declined to release additional information.

    Federal agents in full gear, some holding machine guns, surrounded the parking lot of the Discount Mall in Little Village. As world of the federal operation spread through the community, demonstrators rushed to the scene. Most were unsure of what was happening, but they had heard that agents detained dozens of people inside the mall.

    Rosanna Jimenez works inside and watched as the agents came in.

    "They went all the way over there, Foto Munoz, where they take the pictures, and they start picking up people outside here. Everything was blocked completely. So we all got scared. Very scared," said Jimenez.

    ABC7 has been unable to confirm that anyone from Foto Munoz was arrested. The feds are yet to confirm anything in terms of the number or names of people arrested.

    Randall Samborn, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office, said in a statement that the office would hold a news conference Wednesday to release more information on an "alleged fraudulent identification document organization operating in Chicago's Little Village community."

    The Little Village neighborhood has one of the largest Mexican communities in the Midwest.

    The agents on hand Tuesday included FBI and immigrations officers who had search warrants for an alleged fake ID documentation organization. According to sources, a wide range of fraudulent documents were allegedly being made and distributed at the mall. But protesters say there was no reason to frighten the entire community over it.

    "We are not here to stop anybody from enforcing the law. But there is common sense into this thing. Why do it in such a public way as to intimidate the people here in this community?" said Alderman George Cardenas, 12th Ward.

    After rallying at the entrance to the mall, protesters marched down the street to a church for a prayer vigil. They say if the aim was to intimidate them, it failed.

    "They just did a mass intimidation. They made us believe out here that they were arresting everybody that was here, but they came in with the intention to stop people from marching on May 1. They haven't done this like this from when I can remember. It's clear to us what their intentions are," said Roberto Lopez, Centro Sin Fronteras.

    Officials from other immigrant rights groups said they received dozens of calls from area residents.

    "People are calling about their families and want to know what's happening," said Diego Bonesatti, a spokesman for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

    He said the organization strongly opposes the timing and manner of the investigation, noting that a week of activities in support of immigration reform is planned nationwide, including citizenship workshops, community meetings and marches planned for May 1.

    http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?sectio ... id=5240955
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  2. #2
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    They want to make it just like Mexico where anything goes
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  3. #3
    Senior Member moosetracks's Avatar
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    Give me a break! "Oh I'm so scared, everyone is so scared!" Please, they wouldn't have to be scared if they hadn't broken the laws of our Country.

    I am getting really fed up with this pandering of some people to illegals.

    I'm fed up with lilly-livered politicians, I'm fed up with people electing these people, knowing that they plan to change our Country and laws!
    Do not vote for Party this year, vote for America and American workers!

  4. #4
    Senior Member sippy's Avatar
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    They just did a mass intimidation. They made us believe out here that they were arresting everybody that was here, but they came in with the intention to stop people from marching on May 1. They haven't done this like this from when I can remember. It's clear to us what their intentions are," said Roberto Lopez, Centro Sin Fronteras.
    Well good roberto, I hope you realize what their intentions are. Their intentions are to UPHOLD THE LAW because that's what Americans want. So you don't like it roberto? TOUGH!
    "Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting the same results is the definition of insanity. " Albert Einstein.

  5. #5
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    Video at the link too.

    ~~~~~~~~

    Apr 24, 2007 10:32 pm US/Central

    Immigration Authorities Raid Little Village Mall
    Several Agencies Target Counterfeit Document Ring

    (CBS) CHICAGO U.S. immigration authorities were searching businesses Tuesday afternoon in the predominantly Latino Little Village neighborhood on the Southwest Side. People took to the streets in protest of the raid.

    As CBS 2’s Rafael Romo reports, there was no confirmation of the events from immigration authorities but witnesses say as many as 160 people were arrested in the Little Village Plaza strip mall.

    Anger, frustration and, ultimately, solidarity spilled into the streets of Little Village Tuesday afternoon. Chicago police only showed up after residents flooded 26th Stree and Albany Avenue. Participants held signs that said things like "no one is illegal."

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were apparently targeting a ring that counterfeits and sells immigration documents in the area. Many people complained that others who had nothing to do with counterfeiting were also arrested.

    "Selling illegal papers to immigrants so we can work, basically. That’s all we buy them for, is to work,” said Little Village resident Luz Nolasco. “But apparently that’s against the law and God forbid we help America!"

    Several agencies participated in the raid and witnesses say they were heavily armed when they raided the businesses.

    “They came out here and they had these big guns and they were looking for people under cars and in the stores,” said witness Jesus Figueroa.

    Witnesses say up to 200 agents stormed the mall, locking it down and asking everyone inside and in the parking lot for IDs.

    “They told me they had more than 122 people in custody, but they let them go, mostly. They got in custody 18 people,” Little Village resident Sandy Torres said friends told her.

    Others have heard 16 people were taken into custody.

    “Apparently they had 60 warrants. It appears that they rounded up over 160 people,” said Fr. Brendan Curran of St. Pius Catholic Church. “They have 16 detained at this moment… we’re not sure why.”

    “It’s a show of force. We believe it was done to intimidate this community. We can’t see it any other way,” said Ald. George Cardenas (12th). “The number of people involved in this operation is just overwhelming.”

    Ald. Ricardo Munoz (22nd) called the operation overkill.

    “It was way overkill. They had machine guns, shotguns, bullet-proof vests. It was a huge, huge endeavor,” Munoz said. “They struck fear into the heart of the Little Village community.

    The operation took the community and police by surprise.

    When asked if federal agents tipped Chicago police off to the raid, Sgt. Fernando Garcia said, “Not at all. We're not privy to that.”

    Immigration authorities did not make any comments Tuesday afternoon. There will be a press conference early Wednesday to address questions about this raid. Representatives from the U.S. Attorney's Office, the FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement will be present. Some community residents are expected to protest there, calling for immigration reform.

    http://cbs2chicago.com/local/local_story_114185426.html
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