Thread: Group sues Ariz. over cash transfer crackdown

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/loca ... pPublished: 10.20.2006

Group sues Ariz. over cash transfer crackdown
The Associated Press

An immigrant rights group has sued Arizona, saying the lives and property of innocent people are unfairly snared by a state program intended to combat immigrant and drug smuggling by intercepting money transfers.
The suit was filed by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
It said the warrants authorizing the interceptions are too broad and snare innocent people in violation of constitutional protections on search and seizure.
Rights for legal due process are violated because notices outlining ways to challenge the seizures aren't being posted, according to the suit filed in U.S. District Court in Phoenix on Wednesday.
Englewood, Colo.-based Western Union went to court separately to fight aspects of the program run by the Arizona Attorney General's Office.
The effort recently was expanded to include transfers of $500 or more sent to specific places in Sonora because, state officials said, smugglers responded to seizures in Arizona by rerouting the transfers south of the border.
A federal judge last month rebuffed Western Union's challenge to the expanded program.
A state judge later temporarily halted the program pending an Oct. 30 hearing.
Attorney General Terry Goddard oversees the five-year-old program.
Along with being a major location for drug smuggling, Arizona is the nation's busiest entry point for illegal immigrants from Mexico.
Authorities say illegal immigrants typically won't carry large amounts of cash and frequently arrange to have relatives or friends send money to "coyotes" for payment once crossings are made.
The lawsuit challenges about $12 million intercepted in 11,000 transfers during the past two years.
Goddard's office said the seizure warrants have led to hundreds of arrests of smugglers and drug dealers and "played a role" in the forfeiture of more than $17 million in transit as well as numerous businesses.
Coalition Executive Director Josh Hoyt acknowledged that some of the transfers are for illicit purposes.
But he said the group's investigation shows the procedures also snag "little people" who mostly are just trying to send money to relatives.
"He's taking a lot of innocent people along with the guilty," Hoyt said of Goddard.
Coalition representatives met last week with Goddard in Phoenix but were unable to resolve their differences, Hoyt said.
The lawsuit, which names Goddard and a top aide as defendants, asks the court to block use of the seizure warrants and order restitution for seized transfers and payment of legal fees and costs.
Goddard's spokeswoman, Andrea Esquer, said the office hadn't reviewed the lawsuit and couldn't immediately comment. The office has said procedures used to screen cases are like police roadblocks to snare drunks.
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Comments on this Story Write a letter to the Editor8 Total Comments — See All Comments
1. Comment by Jack K. (#399 — October 20,2006 @ 6:43AM

Good Program, the Feds need to get on board with this program. It must be working if the "open border" folks are suing the Attorney General. These are not "immigrants and refugees" the are law breaking illegals who are sending money to others in Mexico so they can also break US immigration laws.
The courts need to through this out and through the support behind the citizens of AZ.


2. Comment by Jack K. (#399 — October 20,2006 @ 6:49AM

Good Program, the Feds need to get on board with this program. It must be working if the "open border" folks are suing the Attorney General. These are not "immigrants and refugees" they are law breaking illegals who are sending money to others in Mexico so they can also break US immigration laws.
The courts need to through this out and through the support behind the citizens of AZ.


3. Comment by B K. (#1724) — October 20,2006 @ 7:37AM

Excellent post. Yes, these "small people" are sending ill-gotten gains, (by working here illegally).

They broke into the USA, but want all the rights of a US Citizen.

An immigrant rights group has sued Arizona, saying the lives and property of innocent people are unfairly snared by a state program intended to combat immigrant and drug smuggling by intercepting money transfers.


Oh yeah?

Get this news flash: Groups of Americans sick and tired of having their lives and property unfairly snared by illegal aliens.

If you are here illegally and moving out tax free money, then your out of country transfers should be stopped and confiscated.
NO MORE!!!