Thread: Immigrants rescued from smugglers in SoCal

Immigrants rescued from smugglers in SoCal

The Associated Press 3:00 p.m. January 15, 2009

LANCASTER, Calif. — Federal authorities say they have rescued two illegal immigrants being held hostage by smugglers under brutal conditions in Southern California.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Thursday that agents rescued an Ecuadorean national and a Salvadoran national from a Lancaster home Tuesday night.

One of the men told investigators that his captors had beaten him, used stun guns on him and starved him for almost two weeks in an effort to collect a $5,000 smuggling fee.

A man from Mexico and another from Guatemala were arrested. Authorities say both were illegally in the U.S.

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/ ... ndex=37859

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

A man from Mexico and another from Guatemala were arrested. Authorities say both were illegally in the U.S.

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/ ... ndex=37859

These are the "immigrants" that Harry Reid says need "amnesty"...

I.C.E. News Release

January 15, 2009

2 charged after ICE rescues illegal aliens from Los Angeles-area drop house
Hostage claims he was starved, beaten and subdued with stun guns

LANCASTER, Calif. - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents executed a search warrant overnight at a home here where a Salvadoran and Ecuadoran national were rescued by ICE Tuesday night after reportedly being held hostage by human smugglers in the residence, one for at least three weeks.

Following their rescue Tuesday night, one of the hostages told ICE investigators his captors had beaten him repeatedly and forced him to go nearly two weeks without food. Agents said that one of the other smuggled aliens at the residence shared portions of his daily meal with him, possibly helping him to survive. A hostage also told investigators his captors often assaulted him with stun guns. The men are now in protective custody.

The two were freed after ICE agents received a tip late last week that smugglers were holding a hostage and abusing him in an effort to collect a $5,000 smuggling fee. Based upon that information, investigators determined the smugglers were operating somewhere in the Lancaster area. After working virtually around-the-clock over the weekend, ICE agents traced the activity to a home at 646 Martha Court.

When agents knocked on the door Tuesday evening, they heard one of the victims crying out for help inside. As investigators entered the residence, they saw windows boarded up from the inside, and one of the suspected smugglers straddled atop a man beating him. The victim was soaked in sweat and clad only in underwear.

"Tragically, this case shows yet again the ruthlessness and brutality of the human smuggling trade," said Robert Schoch, special agent in charge for the ICE Office of Investigations in Los Angeles. "To the smugglers, these people are nothing more than a payday and they have no qualms about using threats and violence in an effort to collect their smuggling fees. ICE is working aggressively to disrupt this kind of activity and dismantle the criminal organizations involved."

The two suspected smugglers, both of whom are in the country illegally, made their initial appearance in federal court yesterday. Roberto Jose-Tomas, 23, of Mexico, and Diego Francisco-Pascual, 32, of Guatemala, have been charged in a criminal complaint with harboring illegal aliens, an offense that carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in federal prison. At yesterday's hearing, a United States Magistrate judge ordered the men held without bond pending an arraignment on February 2.

During last night's search of the Lancaster residence, ICE agents recovered additional evidence related to the investigation. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 15, 2009
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0901/090115lancaster.htm

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