Thread: FL: Immigration Advocates Protest Arrests During Sex Slave R

Immigration Advocates Protest Arrests During Sex Slave Raid

Immigration advocates want an investigation into the arrests of dozens of Mexicans and Guatemalans taken into custody during raids targeting an alleged sex trafficking ring in South Florida.

The advocates say the 77 foreign nationals detained last month were not involved in sex trafficking.

They claim U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents used excessive force and pointed guns at the detainees' heads. The group has asked the U.S. Attorney's Office for an investigation.


ICE denied the allegations Tuesday but said they would receive an independent review. Spokeswoman Nicole Navas says ICE agents "must ensure a secure environment" when executing criminal search warrants.

ICE reported rescuing nine trafficking victims and arrested four people on sex trafficking charges during the raids.

www.nbc6.net

The advocates say the 77 foreign nationals detained last month were not involved in sex trafficking.

Perhaps I watch too many CSI episodes, but isn't there something about finding evidence in plain sight, like these foreign nationals, who perhaps are here illegally.

There is a more indepth article in the Sun Sentinel. The comments refect how fed up we are with illegals. It is always the same when ICE picks them as the immigration groups complain about violence. The countries many of them come from have the real violent and cprrupt police departments.

Welcome to Florida the newest third world state in the US

For crying out loud. If you don't want to get burned don't sit on the stove. They are always coming up with some new whine.

The advocates say the 77 foreign nationals detained last month were not involved in sex trafficking.

Were they illegal aliens? Then they were justifiably detained, they are criminals. What's the problem? They get caught here illegally, they get deported.

Keep up the good work ICE!

So just who are these advocates?

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/ ... 2674.story

Officials accused of misconduct during South Florida sex slave bust
By Luis F. Perez | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
5:38 PM EST, December 9, 2008
Immigration agents who busted up a sexual slave ring are under investigation for allegedly abusing undocumented immigrants during the arrest, an agency spokesperson said Tuesday.

Immigrant advocates praised U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for going after the human traffickers in the ring. But they said the agents used excessive force, profiled racially, assaulted some of those detained and pointed guns to their heads as children looked on. The agents arrested 77 immigrants during the raids who were not charged in the sex ring.

"The ICE Office of Investigations strongly denies all allegations of agent misconduct," said Nicole Navas, an agency spokeswoman. "However, as is routine protocol, all allegations have been forwarded to the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility for their independent review."

Steve Mocsary, special agent in charge of Office of Professional Responsibility in Plantation, said the investigation could take months.

Federal prosecutors have charged six people with running a ring that kidnapped girls as young as 14 from their homes in Mexico, smuggled them into the United States and then forced them into prostitution. On Nov. 19, ICE raided homes in West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Homestead, Miami and elsewhere that they said were used as brothels or "stash" houses where the women were kept, according to court records.

In a letter sent Friday to U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta, advocates for the immigrants asked the federal prosecutor to investigate.

"We have not seen this letter, but were made aware of these allegations last Wednesday," said Alicia Valle, special counsel to the US Attorney. "Upon learning of the allegations, we immediately referred the matter to the Office of Inspector General for investigation."

A spokesperson for the Inspector General said they do not comment on ongoing investigations.

Jonathan Fried, executive director of WeCount!, a Homestead labor center, said his agency interviewed people from seven homes in the Homestead area that were raided by ICE agents that had no connection to the trafficking ring.

"They were attacking a real problem, a real issue and then they went into homes that had nothing to do with this," Fried said. "The great majority of people detained had nothing to do with the sex trafficking ring."

"The sum actions of these raids, meant to protect victims of trafficking, have victimized many in the Homestead community and created a climate of fear and mistrust," the letter to Acosta said.

Luis F. Perez can be reached at lfperez@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4553.