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Serial Rapist Attacking Young Immigrant Women
Nov 9, 2005, 09:53 PM PST
Reported by April Norris

From little girls to women. many have come forward claiming they were raped by smugglers.

The number of attacks is so alarming it's getting the attention of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency so says the smugglers are turning into serial rapists.

ICE agents from the division of Homeland Security say in the last three months smugglers roughed up and raped ten women while sneaking them into this country from Mexico.

One reason this is so alarming is that some of the young victors are only 14 to 16-years old.

"The women were physically abused, attacked, assaulted and then sexually assaulted," said Special ICE Agent Alonzo Pena.

He believes one or two specific smuggling organizations are responsible for the attacks. The 10 women each tell a similar story.

"Some of it has been where they were smuggled, the technique, the way they were brought across, where they were housed."

Smugglers have an entire enterprise. The top man is the recruiter who circles Mexico looking for people who want to come into the United States.

The transporter drives the illegal immigrants to the Rio Grande where a river guide helps them cross the water. Agents say a brush runner routes the immigrants through the South Texas brushland.

Finally the immigrants are driven to a stash house.

"In one case the smugglers demanded an additional smuggling fee and if they don't come up with the smuggling fee, the women in the case are sexually assaulted."

ICE agents aren't saying where the rapes happened or naming the smuggling organization because the case is still under investigation. They say many immigrants don't report rapes fearing they'll be deported.

But, in this case women can file for a "U" visa. It helps them stay here until their attackers are put to justice.

There's also more help out there for illegal immigrants who are sexual assault victims. If the attacks happened in the United States they can receive free counseling, shelter and help applying for visas at the Friendship of Women in Brownsville.