Thread: Nationally recognized 'gang peacemaker' arrested (MS-13)

Nationally recognized 'gang peacemaker' arrested in gang sweep

10:13 AM | June 24, 2009

A nationally recognized anti-gang leader was among those named in a federal indictment targeting several Mara Salvatrucha gang members who authorities said today have been involved in multiple slayings, extortion and assaults.

Alex Sanchez, executive director of Homies Unidos, was taken into custody by FBI agents this morning at his Bellflower home. Sanchez and several members of MS-13, one of the nation's most ruthless and notorious gangs, were named as a co-conspirators in the indictment, which will be unsealed later today, said FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller.

The indictment alleges that the gang terrorized the Lafayette Park area.

The case of Sanchez, who admitted to being a member of the MS-13 gang as a youth but said he had sworn off the gang lifestyle, became a cause celebre early in the decade when authorities attempted to deport the self-described gang peacemaker.

In 1994, Sanchez was deported to his home country of El Salvador because of a decade-old auto-theft conviction and a subsequent parole violation for possessing a firearm. A year later, he returned illegally to the U.S. and eventually helped form the local chapter of Homies Unidos.

Sanchez was granted political asylum after successfully arguing that he was a victim of harassment by the Los Angeles Police Department, and his case was highlighted by police critics during the Rampart corruption scandal.

Among those who championed Sanchez's cause was former state Sen. Tom Hayden (D-Los Angeles), who befriended Sanchez five years ago and testified on his behalf.

-- Andrew Blankstein and Richard Winton

Photo: Alex Sanchez in 2000 at the INS center in San Pedro. Credit: Perry C. Riddle / Los Angeles Times

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2 ... sweep.html

It looks like the L.A. cops did everything they could to get rid of him
but the FEDS gave him "political asylum".
Now the F.B.I. gets to take care of him.

JohnDoe wrote:

It looks like the L.A. cops did everything they could to get rid of him but the FEDS gave him "political asylum".
Now the F.B.I. gets to take care of him.

Harassing him doesn't necessarily equate to an attempt to deport him. Sounds like an immigration judge in California granted him political asylum. To be honest, I don't even understand how that happened because police harassment shouldn't have anything to do with the fact that he is an illegal alien felon! IMO, Sen. Hayden (D-LA) and the judge that granted the asylum should be hung up by their thumbs and forced to yell uncle!

"Ex-Gang Member Gets Political Asylum
By NORA ZAMICHOW, TIMES STAFF WRITER
July 12, 2002


Gang member turned peace activist Alex Sanchez has been granted political asylum, ending a case that was complicated by overtones of the LAPD Rampart Division scandal.

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"It has great significance because we have been allowed to keep a great peacekeeper," said Silvia Beltran, executive director of Homies Unidos, an anti-gang program.

"It's wonderful news," said former state Sen. Tom Hayden (D-Los Angeles), who befriended Sanchez five years ago and testified on his behalf. "He's helped a lot of young people stay out of trouble and out of harm."

Sanchez, now 30, was deported in 1994 to his homeland, El Salvador, because of a decade-old auto-theft conviction and a subsequent parole violation for possessing a firearm. A year later, he returned illegally to the U.S. and eventually helped form the local chapter of Homies Unidos.

Police critics turned Sanchez's case into a cause celebre, saying it was an example of how the Rampart Division tried to run roughshod over problematic witnesses by having them deported to prevent their testimony.

Sanchez had planned to testify on behalf of a teenager arrested by Rampart officers on suspicion of murder.

In requesting political asylum for Sanchez, his attorney, Alan Diamante, argued that his client might be killed if he was returned to El Salvador because of his links to the Salvadoran gang Mara Salatrucha and his stance against police corruption.

The police chief of San Salvador, Hayden, three anthropologists, a photojournalist and a psychologist were among the witnesses who testified on behalf of Sanchez.

Earlier this week, Sanchez's conviction for firearm possession was vacated. Two years ago, his felony conviction for auto theft was set aside. With both felony offenses tossed out, the path was cleared for the immigration judge to grant political asylum, Diamante said.

The ruling Wednesday by Immigration Judge Rose Peters means that Sanchez will now be able to apply for U.S. citizenship, Diamante said.

"It has totally changed my life," Sanchez said. "It's a new beginning for me. Now I don't have to run anymore. It's a good feeling."

http://articles.latimes.com/2002/jul/12 ... e-asylum12

Earlier this week, Sanchez's conviction for firearm possession was vacated. Two years ago, his felony conviction for auto theft was set aside. With both felony offenses tossed out, the path was cleared for the immigration judge to grant political asylum, Diamante said.

........and this is how the law works in California (and in other places).

The ruling Wednesday by Immigration Judge Rose Peters means that Sanchez will now be able to apply for U.S. citizenship, Diamante said.

Luckily they haven't given him citzenship yet. Now these new charges can keep him from ever getting citizenship.
Why these FEDERAL judges give political asylem to people like this is hard to understand. Let's hope that some FEDERAL judge doesn't drop these charges and let him stay here.

Originally Posted by MW

JohnDoe wrote:

It looks like the L.A. cops did everything they could to get rid of him but the FEDS gave him "political asylum".
Now the F.B.I. gets to take care of him.

Harassing him doesn't necessarily equate to an attempt to deport him.

Police critics turned Sanchez's case into a cause celebre, saying it was an example of how the Rampart Division tried to run roughshod over problematic witnesses by having them deported to prevent their testimony.

Originally Posted by MW

Earlier this week, Sanchez's conviction for firearm possession was vacated. Two years ago, his felony conviction for auto theft was set aside. With both felony offenses tossed out, the path was cleared for the immigration judge to grant political asylum, Diamante said.

........and this is how the law works in California (and in other places).

someone like Judicial watch needs to sue to get these crimes back on his record so that when this case comes up and he is found guilty he can be DEPORTED

Originally Posted by jamesw62

Originally Posted by MW

Earlier this week, Sanchez's conviction for firearm possession was vacated. Two years ago, his felony conviction for auto theft was set aside. With both felony offenses tossed out, the path was cleared for the immigration judge to grant political asylum, Diamante said.

........and this is how the law works in California (and in other places). :roll:

someone like Judicial watch needs to sue to get these crimes back on his record so that when this case comes up and he is found guilty he can be DEPORTED

If he is convicted of these new charges he will probably get locked up here for the rest of his life, at our expense, this time.

Originally Posted by MW

Earlier this week, Sanchez's conviction for firearm possession was vacated. Two years ago, his felony conviction for auto theft was set aside. With both felony offenses tossed out, the path was cleared for the immigration judge to grant political asylum, Diamante said.

........and this is how the law works in California (and in other places). :roll:

Immigration judges are FEDERAL judges.

State judges can't grant political asylum because immigration is a federal responsibility, not a state issue.