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To: raybbr

Well --- there is one positive thing I just read:

Border Patrol focuses on human smugglers 'drop houses'



As with the proverbial needle in the haystack, now comes finding the "coyotes" amid the undocumented immigrants along our southern border.

And thanks to work done in both El Paso and San Diego in years past, the area of searching is becoming tighter. Immigration officials in Arizona say they are focusing on leaders of the rings that make millions of dollars sneaking people across the border.

Agents say they will continue to raid "drop houses" where smugglers hide immigrants while they await payment and set up travel arrangements to send the illegal workers elsewhere.

That mid-1990s effort in El Paso, named "Operation Hold the Line," was overseen by Silvestre Reyes, then head of the Border Patrol in this sector. Its success helped Reyes launch a political career. He now serves as El Paso's representative in the U.S. House of Representatives.

But El Pasoans must remain vigilant in watching for these human drop houses. Once the migrants leave they are often put in danger, such as being locked in railroad cars or in tractor-trailer rigs. Many deaths have occurred over the years due to heat and not enough air or water.

In Phoenix, deputy special agent Patricia Schmidt said an effort is being made to tie the smugglers to individual drop houses.

By centering more on the smugglers, officials hope that it will be more difficult to sneak people into the country.

Karla Patricia Chavez is presently on trial in Houston for allegedly running a ring that tried to transport 70 immigrants in a hot, air-less tractor-trailer rig in 2003. Seventeen immigrants were found dead when the trailer was abandoned at a truck stop. Two others died later.

Finding illegal immigrants at drop houses not only will save lives, but will also help stop those who profit from the illegal actions.

http://www.borderlandnews.com/stories/opinion/ourviews/20050202-18587.shtml

If they will go after smugglers very hard, it would be a positive move. They need to add the employers who are placing their orders with the smugglers.


19 posted on 02/02/2005 5:31:30 AM PST by FITZ
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To: FITZ

God bless you and all your efforts. It's nice to get some positive news on this issue for a change. I just can't figure out Bush's apparent lack of respect for the millions of people who oppose his amnesty/invitation program. He must read the same news that we do. Does he just stick his head in the sand? I don't get it. When will he realize the damage he has already caused?


20 posted on 02/02/2005 6:02:08 AM PST by raybbr
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