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In addition to their role in directly combating terrorism, the Department of Homeland Security also took over the INS, Customs and other border agencies. So it wouldn't be unusual for the border patrol to track planes flying across the border, or from a border-area airport shortly after a known illegal border crossing. And if the plane were flying across the border without a flight plan, it would likely raise even more red flags.

Even if we give Hameed the benefit of the doubt -- he very well may be just a flight school owner and instructor duped by someone who rented his plane --- this story raises legitimate concerns about the security of our borders. Thankfully, this smuggler was caught. But the maximum sentence is 5 years? And the people being smuggled aren't being charged with anything (or quickly deported back to China?) What type of deterrent is that to other air pirates? I'm sure the Department of Homeland Security can't be everywhere and catch every smuggler, even if they devoted all of their resources to combat illegal immigration by air. A harsher penalty would be appropriate.

Well here we go! This sheds SOME light on a few things but didn't confirm that Hameed owns that second plane as reported on KENS 5 TV tonight.

This is from KENS and the San Antonio Express News (mysa.com) and here's the full text if you don't want to register to their site.

Airport busts not tied to terror
Web Posted: 01/26/2005 12:00 AM CST
Mariano Castillo
San Antonio Express-News
Eight people were in custody Tuesday, a day after federal agents swooped down on two planes carrying human cargo and drugs in San Antonio and Austin, officials said.

Christian Delgado Gomez, 22, is taken to the U.S. Courthouse on Tuesday.
Despite early concerns, none of the detainees is suspected of having terrorist links, federal authorities said. Both cases are the result of an ongoing investigation into immigrant smuggling.
The detainees include four undocumented immigrants from China and a pilot from Mexico. They were taken into custody Monday night after a small passenger plane arrived at Stinson Municipal Airport. The flight originated in Eagle Pass.
Three Mexican nationals were apprehended later that night after another plane touched down in Austin. That flight originated in Laredo but stopped at Stinson before flying on to Austin. Officials reported seizing 108 pounds of marijuana on board the plane.
The suspicion of a link to terrorism emerged after a tipster reported last week that a man suspected of smuggling Chinese immigrants into the United States was planning a terrorist attack in Boston.
The tip turned out to be bogus, but the incident pointed out that an increasing number of undocumented immigrants are coming from China.
Crammed into a Cessna 172P, built to seat a maximum of four people, the pilot of the San Antonio-bound plane and his passengers were met by San Antonio police and federal agents when they landed at about 10 p.m. Monday.
Christian Delgado Gomez, 22, was charged with illegally transporting undocumented immigrants, which carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A bond hearing was set for Feb. 3.
It was at least the fourth attempt to smuggle people in by airplane to be foiled in South Texas since August, Department of Homeland Security officials said.
Agents interviewed the four Chinese citizens — two men and two women — and said their journey began in December with an arrival somewhere in Central America.
Using several modes of transportation, including walking, the four traversed Mexico and last weekend crossed the Rio Grande into Eagle Pass, agents said.
The four, who have valid passports, may have each paid their smugglers from $40,000 to $100,000 or more for the journey, which was to end in New York, according to the agents.
The immigrants are awaiting deportation proceedings.
The second plane landed at 11:30 p.m. at Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, where waiting agents arrested three Mexican nationals. They face drug smuggling charges.
Contrary to earlier reports, neither of the planes was forced down. U.S. Border and Customs Protection aircraft were used to monitor the flights in case either of the planes strayed from their filed flight plans, officials said.
Both planes were electronically monitored from the Air and Marine Command Center in Riverside, Calif., in coordination with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Eagle Pass. Local agents were ready to intercept the planes as soon as they landed at their scheduled destinations.
Although the Laredo flight led to information about the Eagle Pass flight, officials declined to say whether the two were linked.
Federal Aviation Administration records show the San Antonio-bound plane is co-owned by Hameed Afzal of Dover, Del. The other listed owner is Alyce S. Taylor, but her address was not available.
Roland Herwig, an FAA spokesman in Oklahoma City, said the plane is properly registered.
On Tuesday, Afzal was running his office at San Antonio International Airport as usual.
"We rent airplanes to qualified pilots, just like you rent cars to qualified drivers," he said. "What they do afterward, you can't say."