Thread: TX: Feds conduct immigrant raids around Houston UPDATE

Houston a hub for human trafficking
Updated at 06:02 PM today
New details in ICE immigration raids
Immigration officials spread across Houston for a series of raids

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- There is new information about a series of immigration raids Tuesday in Houston. We've learned agents arrested dozens of people during the raids, some of them for holding immigrants hostage and moving them for cash.

As we first told you Tuesday, authorities targeted businesses across the city. It was part of a three month long investigation.

Houston is a hub for human trafficking. In a massive ICE raid, 14 Houston businesses were shut down for allegedly trafficking hundreds of undocumented immigrants for cash. Eighty-one immigrants along with 32 vehicles, 18 weapons and stashes of cash were uncovered Tuesday as part of a three-month investigation called Operation Night Moves. A total of 209 undocumented immigrants have been discovered.

"They move at night to avoid detection. They move at night often with between 10 and 20 aliens jammed in SUVs or in vans," said Edward Gallager III, Dept. of Justice Deputy Chief Criminal Division.

Investigators said 23 owner-operators were caught using fake transportation businesses, better known as "camionetas" as their cover, allegedly paid by smugglers to take undocumented immigrants in vans from Houston to cities all over the country.

"The companies would pay commissions to smugglers to bring in smuggled aliens to them. They would also buy and trade passengers on commission between each other," said John Morton, Assistant Secretary of Homeland security for ICE.

The owners allegedly made more than $650 per person while holding them against their will in so-called stash houses. The conditions are described as prison-like.

"The passengers were controlled by armed guards, pit bulls, security cameras and high fences," said Morton.

Two alleged owner-operators, Francisco Jesus Campos and Carlos Bonage, are still at-large. The others in federal custody are charged with conspiracy to transport aliens, a crime that carries a 10-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?secti ... le-7254296

"Two alleged owner-operators, Francisco Jesus Campos and Carlos Bonage, are still at-large. The others in federal custody are charged with conspiracy to transport aliens, a crime that carries a 10-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine."

That ought to start sending them the message, huh? That's great. Word will travel. Americans are fed up and the hammer is coming down.

Gosh I love seeing these articles. I feel so hopeful!

Federal agents raid Houston bus companies
© 2010 The Associated Press
Feb. 3, 2010, 10:19PM

HOUSTON — Federal agents raided more than a dozen Houston bus companies Wednesday that they suspected of transporting dozens of illegal immigrants across the country.

The raids were part of a three-mont investigation of immigrant smugglers' alleged use of Houston transportation companies to disperse the immigrants they bring into the country.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Assistant Secretary John Morton said Wedneday in Houston that 22 people have been charged with conspiracy to transport illegal immigrants. Conviction on each count carries a maximum term of 10 eyars in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Agents targeted 14 businesses, one of them where armed guards and pit bulls held immigrants in a stash house until they could be shipped out. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained 81 undocumented immigrants.

"Houston, unfortunately, has become a hub for these illegal transportation companies," Morton said.

Morton said the companies charge up to $650 for a one-way bus ticket and paid $200 to $300 in commissions on each immigrant to smugglers.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6850105.html

Web Posted: 02/04/2010 12:00 CST
Bus companies accused of immigrant smuggling
comments (5)

By Susan Carroll

HOUSTON — Federal agents, vowing to continue cracking down on smuggling organizations' transportation networks, have targeted more than a dozen local bus companies they say shuttled scores of unauthorized immigrants across the United States.

John Morton, assistant secretary of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was in Houston on Wednesday to announce results of a three-month operation focused on Houston-area smuggling by transportation companies, saying federal agents charged 22 suspects with conspiracy to transport unauthorized immigrants.

Federal agents executed nine search warrants Tuesday morning and targeted 14 businesses, including one that Morton said used armed guards and pit bulls to hold passengers in a stash house before they were smuggled on to their final destinations.

“Houston, unfortunately, has become a hub for these illegal transportation companies,â€

Bus companies accused of immigrant smuggling
By SUSAN CARROLL
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Feb. 3, 2010, 8:35PM

TARGETED COMPANIES
Immigration officials charged 22 people working for local companies with conspiracy to transport illegal immigrants. The companies include:

• Transportes Tres Estrellas de Oro: 7700 block of Park Place Boulevard

• Transportes Banda: 5600 block of Harrisburg Boulevard

• Transportes Medrano and Amigo: 6320 Harrisburg Boulevard

• Transportes Sarahi: 7400 block of Tuck Street

• Transportes Los Plebes: 500 block of Wayside Drive

• El Pionero Van Tours: 5500 block of East Mount Houston

• Super Express Van Tours: 7200 block of Long Drive

Source: Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Federal agents have targeted more than a dozen local bus companies they say shuttled scores of illegal immigrants to destinations across the U.S., vowing to continue cracking down on smuggling organizations' transportation networks.

ICE Assistant Secretary John Morton was in Houston on Wednesday to announce results of a three-month operation focused on Houston- area smuggling by transportation companies, saying federal agents charged 22 suspects with conspiracy to transport illegal immigrants.

Federal agents executed nine search warrants Tuesday morning and targeted 14 businesses, including one on the city's southeast side that Morton said used armed guards and pit bulls to hold passengers in a stash house before they were smuggled on to their final destinations.

“Houston, unfortunately, has become a hub for these illegal transportation companies,â€