This article has been posted to DoctorZin’s New News Blog!
Posted on 08/03/2004 6:11:24 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SAN DIEGO - Authorities in California were on the lookout Tuesday for a man believed to be from the Middle East who paid a higher-than-usual smuggling fee to cross the U.S.-Mexico border, but officials said the case had no connection to terrorism.
"This is not a terrorist warning," said Homeland Security spokeswoman Lauren Mack.
The man, who was not identified, entered the United States Monday near Tecate, Mexico - a small border crossing station about 70 miles east of San Diego.
It was unclear how he crossed the border. Once across, the man got into a Ford F150 pickup, according to a witness who alerted U.S. immigration officials. Agents said they believed the information to be credible, Mack said.
The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement learned the man had paid more than the typical $1,500 to $2,000 smuggling fee and notified the California Highway Patrol, which put out a "soft lookout" - a lower-priorty alert - for the Interstate 5 corridor.
"It's not uncommon for us to alert the local highway patrol when we are following up on smuggling activity," Mack said.
The man got into a 2000 Ford pickup with California plates, Mack said. Department of Motor Vehicle records show the plate was registered to a Yolanda Rodriguez. The vehicle was believed to be headed to Northern California.
State officials could not release the vehicle's registered address.
ABC News, citing anonymous sources, reported over the weekend that al-Qaida planned to send terrorists across the Mexican border into the United States, and that suicide attacks were being planned in the city, possibly using trucks.
A woman with a South African passport was arrested near the U.S.-Mexico border last month when she tried to board a flight to New York with more than $6,000 in cash. Officials told The Associated Press they were investigating whether Farida Goolam Mohamed Ahmed, 48, had ties to al-Qaida or other terrorist groups.
I'm shocked, just shocked that a terrorist from the middle east might enter the US throuh Mexico....
a.k.a. Guadalupe Martinez
a.k.a. Guadalupe Rodriguez
a.k.a. Yolanda Martinez
a.k.a. Guadalupe Jerez
a.k.a. Juana Jerez...
NOW...is it time to close the borders....?
Norm!
No --no --no --- you didn't read the article well enough --- they know he's from the Middle East, they know he for whatever reason wants to bypass the legal entry points, they know he paid a nice sum to get in illegally --- but they just know he's not a threat. It said "low-priority".
Uh huh. I get tired of arguing with those who think it's an easy thing to close the borders and when border patrols CATCH Mideasterners that it's not enough...but THAT piece of BS deserves a "Brooklyn Bridge for Sale, CHEAP" alert.
Vicente Fox still says we cannot.
Maybe Kerry's secret security plan is an Israelilike border fence from sea to shining sea. The Bush administration says our borders are basically indefensible -- a mindset which we'll eventually have to change. Of course Kerry would have to raise taxes in order to build this fence, but heck, maybe he'd have a winner with this idea. On second thought, no. He'd lose the Hispanic vote, which he can't afford. Plus, nobody would believe that's where he'd put our tax dollars. He'd pull a switcheroo and set up water/food centers in the desert or soem damn thing.
"but officials said the case had no connection to terrorism. "
Anybody who crosses illegally is committing some from of terrorism on the legal citizens of the US!
Please don't call me naive... But... I really do believe that the Bush Administration wants to stop terrorists threats from abroad. Maybe this will be the imputus needed to secure our border once and for all.
Oh good grief. Could not or would not???
We will regret our reluctance to get a handle on illegal immigration. We are spending BILLIONS on homeland security, multi millions on beefing up security in NYC, DC and Newark right now, yet we invite the terrorists in on our southern flank. Of course, after the next major terrorist attack, it is determined that the perpetrators came into the US from Mexico(too late obviously), we'll begin to take this issue seriously. Unfortunately, our enemy will have already succeeded in getting all the terrorists into the country. I am so afraid this nation will live to regret(many won't though) not doing something sooner.
I don't agree with those who feel it is an impossible task. IF we have another major terror act and it is traced to people coming thru our southern border, you can bet two things are gonna happen;
1. We will find a way (and fast) to do a better job of protection our borders.
2. GWB will be run out of office on a rail (or won't be reelected).
Ain't nobody gonna believe we we put a good faith effort into protecting our border. Let's seal the border. If we really believe we need more people, then we should invite them in and screen them on the way in.
1-2 million bouncing betty land mines would significantly reduce the number of "illegal" border crossers.
Sure the guy is not a terrorist he just came here for a little R&R.
O'Reilly has been singing this song for a long time but noone seemed to listen.
It makes you wonder how they're identifying someone as a potential terrorist. It sounds like unless they've got proof-- fingerprints and all that a border crosser was involved in a terrorist act, they're just assuming there is no connection.
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