Thread: Kingsport police deliver 10 illegal aliens to ICE

Kingsport police deliver 10 illegal aliens to immigration officials

Published 09/05/2007 By Timesnews.net Staff

Kingsport police corporal Tim Horne handed 10 illegal aliens over to Department of Homeland Security Immigration Customs Enforcement officials after stopping a green Ford Expedition with Georgia tags for speeding on I-81 at the 57 mile marker around 8 a.m. Wednesday.

The driver and nine passengers were believed to be illegal aliens from San Bartolome, Mexico, according to a press release.

Kingsport police say the group, which included two juveniles traveling without parental supervision, was traveling from Charlottesville, Va., to Atlanta, Ga., and gave conflicting reasons for traveling in the United States.

Documents found in the vehicle also led authorities to believe that at least one occupant might be involved in an illegal alien smuggling/trafficking ring that delivers illegal aliens to certain locations within the United States.

I.C.E. officials from Knoxville responded to take Miguel Sanchez, 50; Benito Amara, 33; Guillermo Flores, 18; Placido Perez, 21; Erika Perez, 21; Carina Flores, 20; Apolinar Martinez, 28; and Maribello Hernandez, 25; and two juveniles into custody and an investigation is ongoing, according to a press release.

KPD reports that Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Barry Meyers assisted in the investigation.

http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9002851

Report says lax enforcement of laws fuels Tenn. immigration concerns.

http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9002300

Police stop illegal alien smuggler

Wednesday, Sep 05, 2007 - 10:14 PM Updated: 10:29 PM

By Nate Morabito

On the same roads and highways many of us travel every day, human smugglers, known to some as "coyotes," may be driving under the radar. Kingsport police stopped 10 illegal aliens Wednesday morning along Interstate 81. The bust shows human trafficking is not just a problem elsewhere. Occassionally, police catch these people here, in our backyard.

"It's a national concern and it's a local concern as well," Chief Gale Osborne siad. "From time to time we do deal with illegal immigrants."

Osbrone says the 10 people found Wednesday started their journey in Mexico, then traveled to Atlanta, ultimately headed towards Charlottesville, Virginia. However, before making it out of Tennessee, officers say they clocked the group's SUV speeding.

Soon after, police say they found information indicating at least one of the people inside was involved in human smuggling, dropping off illegal aliens at specific destinations across the United States.

Those illegal aliens are now in the custody of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. ICE Spokesperson Temple Black says human trafficking is a common problem across the country.

"I've been in this job for about seven years and it was an issue seven years ago and it was an issue long before that," Black said.

He says stopping human trafficking is a top priority for the Department of Homeland Security, but he says the federal government can't stop the problem by itself. Agents often rely on help from local police, like in this case. Too often, Black says smugglers are more creative than you would think.

"People will come into the country many different ways," Black said. "Backroads, even in some instances maybe an Indian reservation, so it's not only highways."

Federal agents also rely on help from people like you. In fact, ICEhas a tip line dedicated to cracking down on human trafficking. Anyone with information that could help the Department of Homeland Security, should call (877) DHS-2ICE.

http://www.tricities.com/tristate/tri/n ... -0043.html

Would it be legal to hire a bounty hunter or off duty cop to pick up illegals and escort them out of the country?