Thread: Undocumented immigrants found in vans

http://www2.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_3064923

Undocumented immigrants found in vans
By Melissa Pinion-Whitt, Staff writer



POMONA - Thirty smuggled undocumented immigrants who hadn't been fed in days were found packed in several vans in the southern part of the city Monday.
Pomona officers detained three suspected smugglers at the scene and turned them over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, city officials said.

Two girls, 11 women and 17 men who had been smuggled from Mexico survived on snacks but otherwise went without food, city officials said.

"Emergency crews were sent out, and they found that those 30 immigrants had not eaten in three days," said Pomona city spokeswoman Monique Valadez.

Several local churches offered to feed the immigrants but didn't have enough time to bring meals before immigration officials arrived. The ICE team assured police that the group would be fed.

A patrol officer discovered the immigrants before 10 a.m. Monday in the 2500 block of Notre Dame Avenue.

"The smugglers fled on foot but were captured thanks to a citizen who saw them flee and then called police dispatch," Valadez said.

The ICE team took the immigrants into custody.

"They're being processed for removal and possible prosecution," said Lori Haley, organization spokeswoman.

The suspected smugglers' names were not released.

It was unknown how long the immigrants had been kept in the three vans, which were parked in a cul-de-sac just north of the 60 Freeway.

Officials with ICE were called to a house in Ontario in August after authorities found 38 undocumented immigrants who had been smuggled into the country from Central America and Mexico. The house had running water and some food but was deemed unsanitary.

Several women and children and three individuals who had previously been deported were among those taken into custody by the team.

The agency found a similar number of undocumented people in a Corona drop house in late 2004.

Thanks Brian 503 but this happens all the time in Colorado and the Midwest but instead of being turned over to the INS they just let them go because ICE does not want them. BTW How do any of us know that ICE in Pomona does not just let them go instead of taking them down to Tijuana?

I don't trust a Border Patrol or ICE that is %40 Hispanic and when some of this %40 had parents who were illegals? Maybe I am wrong about the ICE but then again...?