EAGLE PASS, Texas — A 27-year-old southwest Texas man was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison Monday for alien smuggling that resulted in the death of a Honduran national. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Border Patrol.

An SUV packed with suspected illegal immigrants crashed in a farm town south of Phoenix while fleeing from U.S. Border Patrol agents early Wednesday, leaving four people dead and seven injured.

The Dodge Durango carrying 11 people hit a wall and rolled into the yard of a home in Casa Grande at about 1 a.m., police spokesman officer Thomas Anderson said. Officers found three people dead at the scene, and a fourth died after being airlifted to a hospital in Phoenix, 50 miles to the north.

Five of the injured were hurt badly enough to also be flown to Phoenix hospitals, while two with lesser injuries were taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital.

Border Patrol and U.S. Homeland Security agents spotted the SUV driving with a second vehicle south of town in an area where smuggling is common, Anderson said. When officers tried to stop the two vehicles, one slowed and the other sped north toward Casa Grande with agents following.

A police officer saw the SUV careening into town, try to make a turn and lose control. It crashed through a wall and hit several trees, but stopped just short of a house.

The crash was extremely violent, leaving a trail of auto parts and bodies, Anderson said.

Federal agents detained the woman driving the second vehicle.

Multiple-fatality crashes involving vehicles packed with illegal immigrants are not uncommon in Arizona, especially when drivers try to flee from law enforcement. It's also common for smuggling vehicles to travel in pairs, with one acting as a decoy so the vehicle with drugs or illegal immigrants can slip away.

Falfurrias, Texas – CBP U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Falfurrias Station saved the lives of two illegal aliens early Friday morning.

The rescue occurred after two women, who are nationals of Mexico, became lost and in distress on a ranch south of Falfurrias. Fortunately, the pair located and activated a rescue beacon. Agents immediately responded to the area and located the women.

Deming, NM – CBP U.S. Border Patrol agents from Deming, along with assistance from New Mexico State Police, the Hachita Volunteer Fire Department, and the Grant County Sheriffs Office made a life-saving effort of an illegal migrant yesterday near Hachita, N.M.

TUCSON, AZ (CBS5) -

Border patrol agents arrested two sex offenders for illegally entering the U.S. on Wednesday.

 

 

By Breann Bierman

Tucson, Ariz. – A 33-year-old male from Zamora, Michoacan, Mexico, apprehended by Customs and Border Protection Ajo Station U.S. Border Patrol agents in June 2011 near Why, Ariz., was sentenced to 57 months of confinement on April 9.

 McALLEN, Texas (CN) - Federal prosecutors say an alien smuggler - who is undocumented himself - was arrested after posting ads on Craiglist to recruit drivers, and posting a YouTube video in which he escaped from a high-speed pursuit.

El Paso, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents were busy the past 24 hours with two separate incidents involving rescues in the El Paso area.

At approximately 5:30 a.m. today, U.S. Border Patrol agents received a call from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office requesting assistance on Socorro Road regarding a group of undocumented immigrants who were literally stuck in mud in a farm field in San Elizario.

Del Rio, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Rocksprings Station apprehended a known sex offender Sunday evening.

Tucson, Ariz. – A 30-year-old man from Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico, apprehended by Willcox Station Border Patrol agents in October 2011 near Whetstone, Ariz., was sentenced Tuesday to 57 months of confinement.

Edinburg, Texas – During a collaborative law enforcement operation, U.S. Border Patrol agents, Edinburg police officers and agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations arrested 32 illegal immigrants Wednesday, who were living in deplorable conditions at a stash house.

Tucson, Ariz. – Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents detected two illegal immigrants concealed in the trunk of a vehicle and arrested two male U.S. citizens at the Interstate 19 checkpoint last night.

Tucson, Ariz. – Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents apprehended 44 illegal aliens attempting to illegally enter the United States in the west desert Saturday.

Sarita, Texas ─ U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Kingsville Station saved the lives of two illegal aliens who activated a rescue beacon after becoming lost in the brush Saturday.

El Paso, Texas – A convicted sex offender found to have entered the United States illegally, was apprehended on January 10, by CBP U.S. Border Patrol agents working in the El Paso area.

HOUSTON — A man from El Salvador, who was wanted for murder in his home country, was deported and turned over to El Salvador officials on Jan. 6 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers.

Tucson, Ariz. – Two female United States citizens were convicted in U.S. District Court yesterday for attempting to transport illegal aliens into the interior of the United States.

Tucson, Ariz. –Border Patrol agents assigned to the Tucson Sector, a component of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Joint Field Command-Arizona, seized 2,150 pounds of marijuana yesterday with the assistance of air assets and sophisticated surveillance technology.

Five illegal immigrants armed with at least two AK-47 semi-automatic assault rifles were hunting for U.S. Border Patrol agents near a desert watering hole known as Mesquite Seep just north of the Arizona-Mexico border when a firefight erupted and one U.S. agent was killed, records show.

A now-sealed federal grand jury indictment in the death of Border Patrol agent Brian A. Terrysays the Mexican nationals were “patrolling” the rugged desert area of Peck Canyon at about 11:15 p.m. on Dec. 14 with the intent to “intentionally and forcibly assault” Border Patrol agents.

Hidalgo, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at South Texas ports of entry between Pharr and Roma arrested 16 persons wanted on outstanding federal, state and local warrants during the past week.

Imperial Valley, Calif. – In fiscal year 2011, Border Patrol agents from the El Centro Sector arrested and charged over 30 illegal alien sex offenders after they attempted to cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally.

Authorities have intercepted a boat in Seal Beach that was allegedly being used to smuggle people into the United States.

-- Abby Sewell

Tucson, Ariz. – On Nov. 2, a 45-year-old man from Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, who was apprehended by Tucson Station Border Patrol agents in May, was sentenced to 70 months in prison.

Otay Mesa, Calif. – U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended five illegal aliens from Mexico this morning that became stuck while crawling through a makeshift tunnel which branched off of an abandoned gas line near the Otay Mesa port of entry.

Ocotillo, CA. – Yesterday, U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the El Centro Station arrested an illegal alien with extensive criminal history and an outstanding arrest warrant for felony charges.

Tucson, Ariz. – A 43-year-old male from Sonora, Mexico, who was apprehended by Nogales Station Border Patrol agents in early May, was sentenced to 75 months in prison on Oct. 18.

Tucson, AZ –Two Mexican nationals apprehended by Tucson, Ariz. Border Patrol agents for attempting to illegally re-enter the United States were sentenced to prison on Sept. 16.

Tucson, AZ –Two Mexican nationals apprehended by Tucson, Ariz. Border Patrol agents for attempting to illegally re-enter the United States were sentenced to prison on Sept. 16.

Tucson, AZ – More than 1,900 pounds of marijuana with an estimated value of almost $974,000 was seized and a stolen vehicle was recovered by Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents in two separate incidents yesterday.

Tucson, Ariz. – Last week, an illegal immigrant with a serious criminal history was convicted and sentenced to 30 months in federal prison.

Tucson, AZ – Over the long Holiday weekend in three separate incidents, Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents arrested three illegal aliens with dangerous criminal histories. Two of the illegal aliens had felony convictions and another had a prior conviction as a sex offender with an outstanding warrant.

El Paso, TX – U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel working in El Paso, Texas and New Mexico will take center stage as the new season of National Geographic’s “Border Wars” premieres on Sunday, September 4. National Geographic crews spent five weeks in the El Paso area earlier this year shadowing CBP officers, Border Patrol agents, and Air & Marine personnel to document the work they perform supporting the CBP mission. From early in the morning until late into the night the National Geographic crews were with CBP to film interesting stories from start to finish.

A judge in West Texas threw out a $25 million wrongful death lawsuit against the U.S. government over the fatal shooting last year of a 15-year-old Mexican boy by a Border Patrol agent but allowed the civil case against the officer to move forward.

Senior U.S. District Judge David Briones in El Paso dismissed the lawsuit against the U.S. government earlier this month because the boy, Sergio Adrian Hernandez Guereca, was on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande when he was shot on June 7, 2010. U.S. law gives the government immunity when such claims arise in a foreign country, Briones noted, and the "harm that the Plaintiffs allege ... was felt in Mexico."

The attorney for the boy's family, Bob Hilliard, said Thursday that he will appeal. He said he not only wants to hold the U.S. government accountable, he also wants to set a precedent on how to proceed on any future shootings across the border.

"This will happen again, and there needs to be direction as to if the Constitution provides protection" to the victims of wrongdoing by federal agents across the border, Hilliard said in a phone interview with The Associated Press.

The shooting occurred under one of the border bridges in El Paso and was recorded by an eyewitness with a cellphone.

U.S. investigators have said Border Patrol agent Jesus Mesa was trying to arrest illegal immigrants who crossed into the U.S when he came under attack from rock throwers. Generally, Border Patrol agents are allowed to use deadly force against rock throwers.

Hilliard has said the teen was unarmed and did not threaten Mesa.

Although Briones dismissed the lawsuit against the U.S., he allowed it to proceed against Mesa.

Randolph Ortega, agent Mesa's lawyer, didn't immediately return a request for comment Thursday.

The El Paso Times, which first reported about Briones' ruling, said Hernandez Guereca's family and Mexican officials have demanded a full investigation and asked Mexican prosecutors to file murder charges against Mesa and seek his extradition.

The law generally protects federal employees from such lawsuits. However, Hilliard said he intends to prove that Mesa's behavior was so egregious that he doesn't enjoy the protection of his employment.

"He shot a teenager in cold blood. Sergio Hernandez did nothing to make agent Mesa fear for his life, he was unarmed; he was retreating following Mesa's command," Hilliard said.

Federal records obtained by the AP after the shooting showed Hernandez Guereca had been arrested several times in 2008 and 2009 for attempting to smuggle illegal immigrants across the Rio Grande. It is a common for human traffickers to use minors to guide immigrants into the U.S. because they can't be charged as adults.

The AP filed Freedom of Information Act requests to the FBI and Customs and Border Protection to obtain employment and disciplinary records for Mesa to determine if there was a pattern of excessive use of force. The agencies declined to release the records, saying the information could "reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement procedures."

___

Information from: El Paso Times, http://www.elpasotimes.com

Ocotillo, Calif. – On July 31, air assets from the CBP Office of Air and Marine and Border Patrol agents worked together to rescue a group of six distressed illegal aliens who had been stranded in the mountains for several days.

Tucson, Ariz. – A 31-year-old illegal immigrant from Oaxaca, Mexico, arrested Tuesday by Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents, turned out to also be wanted in Oregon for attempted murder.

El Paso, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at ports of entry in El Paso, West Texas, and New Mexico identified and stopped 65 violations during the past weekend. CBP officers identified immigration violations, apprehended fugitives, seized drugs, and confiscated prohibited agriculture items between July 22 – July 24.

Desert Center, Calif. – U.S. Border Patrol agents from the El Centro Sector saved the lives of 9 illegal aliens yesterday afternoon after they became severely dehydrated while traveling through rough desert terrain.

Tucson, Ariz. – In six separate incidents over the weekend, Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents rescued a total of eight people from the desert after they illegally entered the United States.

There has been a dramatic decrease in the past three years in illegal immigration into the United States -- but the same years saw a dramatic increase in illegal immigration from one country: India; in May, DHS secretary Janet Napolitano told a Senate committee that at some point this year, Indians will account for about 1 in 3 non-Mexican illegal immigrants caught in Texas; experts say that at least one reason is that, beginning in 2009, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua no longer require Indians to obtain a visa before entering any of the four Central American countries, making it easier for smugglers to bring Indians there, and from there to the United States

Tucson, Ariz. – A Mexican national apprehended by Nogales Border Patrol agents late last year for attempting to illegally enter the U.S. was sentenced to 51 months in prison on June 30.

Tucson, Ariz. – Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents rescued 26 individuals in the desert over the holiday weekend.

Phoenix/Tucson -This ranch is south of Tucson near the Arizona/Mexico Border.  There is a 70,000 acre fire burning, only one of many lately.  This is a smuggler's drug and weapon route, and possibly "signal fires" may have started these fires, there isn't any other reason determined yet.   

Reported by:  Morgan Loew, KPHO CBS 5 News

Aguadilla, P.R. – CBP U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested four aliens who landed yesterday on Montones Beach in the northwestern coast of Puerto Rico.

Pima County, AZ. -- Yes, straight out of the old wild west where wild mustangs are rounded up, tamed by prisoners in Colorado; then assist the US Border Patrol.

Falfurrias, Texas - U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Falfurrias Station saved the lives of 12 illegal aliens, who were confined in a cargo truck with no ventilation on Saturday.

Funding for the National Guard being deployed to the US-Mexico Border runs out in June. Once again, this is becoming a political football game. Who will catch it this time?

Jacumba, Calif. — U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested two male United States citizens in Jacumba on Tuesday for smuggling four undocumented Mexican nationals in a uniquely constructed compartment in the bed of a 1997 black Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck.

Miami - U.S. Customs and Border Protection marine interdiction agents thwarted an attempt by four Cuban citizens to reach the U.S. on a crude raft Thursday morning.

We need to step up educating our children of all ages, the methods used by the drug smugglers to recruit them, and the consequences that might happen to them. It is not a pretty picture, but some shock therapy is needed regarding this subject.

San Diego — A collaborative effort between Customs and Border Protection Office of Air and Marine and the U.S. Border Patrol prevented a maritime human smuggling attempt yesterday that resulted in the arrest of seven Mexican nationals.

Imperial Valley, Calif. -- U.S. Border Patrol agents from the El Centro Sector arrested two illegal aliens with history of criminal sex offenses and seized over $500,000 in cocaine over the past few days.

Edinburg, Texas ─ U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Rio Grande Valley sector saved the lives of 28 illegal aliens in several separate incidents over the past five days.

These horses are the lucky ones to be found before their demise from either starvation or the desert brutality. This "pot" never reached its destination, and the smugglers are no where in sight.

San Diego — The San Diego Maritime Unified Command (MUC) is comprised of the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Air & Marine, CBP Office of Field Operations, CBP U.S. Border Patrol, ICE, as well as state and local law enforcement partners operating in the San Diego and Orange County maritime domain.

"Nearly 80 have been arrested in the last five years; hundreds more under investigation"

"It was amazing to us to find out that Margarita Crispin received $5 million for her services to allow loads of marijuana to come through her checkpoint along the border," assistant director of the Criminal Investigative Division of the FBI, told NBC News."

"At a U.S. Senate hearing, it was revealed that Mexican cartel members are infiltrating American law enforcement. There was also testimony that during a hiring push that began five years ago to add thousands of Border Patrol and CBP officers, only 10 percent of the initial applicants were given polygraph tests.
Of those, 60 percent failed, raising concerns about the integrity of the others hired without screening."

Richard M. Stana, director of homeland security and justice issues at the Government Accountability Office (which is responsible for "auditing agency operations to determine whether federal funds are being spent efficiently and effectively"), told the Senate Homeland Security Committee yesterday that the federal government can actually prevent or stop illegal entries into the United States along only 129 miles of the 1,954-mile-long U.S.-Mexico border.
That leaves 1,825 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border where the Border Patrol cannot prevent or stop an illegal entry.
Nonetheless, Stana told the committee, the Border Patrol itself says it has established "an acceptable level of control" along 873 miles of the 1,954-mile-long southwest border. This is because of the way the Border Patrol defines "an acceptable level of control" of the border.

Three illegal immigrants arrested near the scene of a shootout that left a Border Patrol agent dead have been cleared by federal authorities of involvement in the shooting.

Robbie Sherwood, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Arizona, said two of the immigrants pleaded guilty to an immigration violation Tuesday and the third is expected to do so Wednesday. They will be deported to Mexico.

Sherwood said in a written statement that there's no evidence tying the three to the Dec. 14 shooting.

The three immigrants from Mexico were arrested near the Arizona border city of Nogales the day after Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was shot.

Terry was waiting with other agents in a canyon 13 miles north of the border when a shootout with bandits erupted.

Terry was the only person killed in the attack. No other agents were injured.

Another suspect who was shot in the incident is being held on immigration charges and hasn't been charged in Terry's death.

The statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office doesn't say whether other suspects are in custody.

In another development, FBI spokesman Manuel Johnson said there's no evidence that friendly fire played a part in the shootout.

"Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu is anticipating an armed conflict between his deputies and cartel members within the next 30 to 60 days."

"A gunbattle is all but certain, Babeu told The Arizona Republic, because his deputies and members of a regional SWAT team are now routinely working to stop smugglers from pushing cargo through Pinal."

" Babeu said. "In the event that any of them decide to point their weapons at our deputies . . . my directive is there had better be rounds going downrange to neutralize that threat."

Seems like we have heard something similiar before.

__________________________
The Note Blog by: Jason Ryan

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin said " President Barack Obama had spoken to his Mexican counterpart, Felipe Calderon, about making the new border crossing a reality.

That sure was alot of dirty smelly loot in those bulging seats, sniffed out by the nose once again, thanks Enzo!

An example of the U.S. Border Patrol protecting the Arizona/Mexico Border............

This is just too hilarious for words! This dairy just got rid of some fresh and juicy cow manure.

"This latest episode took the life of Border Patrol agent Brian A. Terry. Details are sketchy as of now, but it appears Terry came upon a group of presumed smugglers at Peck Wells, which is part of Peck Canyon, when the shooting occurred.
The Border Patrol's public-information office in Tucson confirms that at least four suspects are in custody, and one more is being pursued. A massive manhunt is underway as Border Patrol and other law-enforcement agencies try to apprehend the suspect, believed to be trying to flee into Mexico."

"Janet Napolitano—who keeps telling us the border is just fine, nothing to see here, move along—should be put under hot lights over the Terry killing.
She needs to explain why she thinks it's safe for American citizens to venture onto this Coronado National Forest land. Would she go there herself? Would she take her family, her dog? Or would she go only with a heavily-armed security detail?"

From his ranch headquarters this morning, David Lowell says: "I feel bad about the really lousy job our government is doing—not Border Patrol, but the politicians. If the same Border Patrolman had shot first and killed the (presumed) Mexican that killed him, he'd probably have a ticket to go to prison. It's a really dumb way to try to protect our southern border.

The U.S. Border Patrol is requiring a private volunteer border watch group to remove political messages attached to thousands of small flags placed on the U.S.-Mexican border fence in Cochise County.

About 16,000 flags and five banners were attached to the fence by members of the American Border Patrol group in early July to urge the government to finish building 700 miles of double fencing.

The banners vanished days later.

Border Patrol spokeswoman Colleen Agle tells the Sierra Vista Herald that messages or banners can't be placed on federal property without prior approval or authorization.

She says that the group didn't have that permission.

___

Information from: Sierra Vista Herald, http://www.svherald.com

HAMILTON, OH (FOX19) - Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones is looking for help in filing a lawsuit against the Mexican government.

Jones calls it a "novel idea," saying Mexico should help pay for the cost of jailing illegal immigrants and tracking drugs that come across the border.

Education officials in Georgia voted Wednesday to bar illegal immigrants from attending the state's five most selective public colleges, a decision that immigrant rights groups threatened to challenge in court.

Pinal County, AZ - They are now living in caves complete with bincolulars, walkie talkies, food, etc. peering down on the residents of Silverbell, AZ., and spotting for the smugglers......

Sorry folks - this is getting way too outta hand.

Officials were forced to close down northbound traffic on the Gateway International Bridge for a short time Sunday because of a grenade attack in Matamoros, officials said.

"The full contingent of National Guard is expected to be on the Southwest border by October, though a firm date is hard to get.
None is on Arizona's border yet."

"The federal government came under criticism when troops were not at the border by August, with critics pointing to a July 19 news release from the Department of Homeland Security announcing an Aug. 1 deployment. During a conference call Wednesday, Harrison said the plan never called for all 1,200 troops on the border on that date."

CASSOPOLIS — If living in the United States illegally for 12 years wasn't enough of a crime, Mexican citizen Leticia Sosa-Cepeda compounded her problems by committing identity theft in Cass County.

DENVER -- A report published Thursday appears to show the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment may be paying unemployment insurance to illegal immigrants.

Since everyone arrested would be screened, the program could easily deport more people than Arizona's new law, said Sunita Patel, an attorney who filed a lawsuit in New York against the federal government on behalf of a group worried about the program.

Nicaraguan mother Lorena Aguilar hawks a television set and a few clothes on the baking sidewalk outside her west Phoenix apartment block.

Mexico is abuzz over Arizona's new immigration law as the country prepares for a possible influx of deportees.

WASHINGTON Federal immigration officials will not be taking custody of Antonia Rivera of Santa Ana and her fellow illegal immigrants arrested on Capitol Hill Tuesday for demonstrating for a bill that would give her and others brought to the United States as children the chance to live here legally.