Posted on 02/08/2005 6:24:38 AM PST by txdoda
FEBRUARY 7, 2005 - Action 4 News undercover cameras catch Border Patrol agents dropping off illegal immigrants at a local bus station by the van load.
How do we know the immigrants are not possible terrorists? You'll soon find out we don't! Could this be a sign of border breakdown?
New Year's Eve morning agents pull up to the Valley Transit bus station in Harlingen, open the back of their van and a hand full of illegal immigrants jump out.
But that's just the beginning, six days later more illegal immigrants were set free, free to travel anywhere they want in the U.S. Why should you be concerned?
They are residents from what Homeland Security calls special interest countries - countries like Brazil and Argentina. The U.S. government has identified the countries as supporters of terrorism.
Luther Jones owns the Harlingen Valley Transit Bus Station.
"We offer them transportation via the bus to the destination they're traveling."
He says the unsupervised transportation of recently captured illegal immigrants is common.
"Immigrations will drop off, I call them entrepreneurs that are people seeking a better life. They come through the doors, we meet them and start them off with phone card, so they can call their family, if they're in need of money, we assist them with retrieving money through Western Union here at the bus station."
Some fear the illegal immigrants could be possible terrorists. Several U.S. Border Patrol agents who don't want to be identified tell Action 4 News they want people to know they're being told to drop off the immigrants at the bus station.
They say they do it at all times of the day. Even at night. The trips to the bus station they say just don't stop!
On January 17, the Border Patrol releases a dozen or so illegal immigrants. We're told they're from El Salvador.
Four months ago, law enforcement in El Salvador warned the U.S. that Al Qaeda may be recruiting gang members there.
"No, these people they're so friendly and it's such need is what I see coming through the door," Jones said.
On another day, Action 4 News cameras caught four men from Brazil sitting at the bus station.
Jones says they also entered the country illegally. He says they're waiting for family to wire them money for bus fare.
27 year-old Fernando Tello-Huila from southern Colombia doesn't have any problems telling his story.
He says he traveled to Matamoros and paid a coyote $900 to show him where and how to cross the Rio Grande. Coyotes are paid handsomely to smuggle immigrants illegally into the country.
Border agents apprehended Fernando in McAllen.
"The immigration police gave me the information fast so I could quickly get my permission to stay in the U.S.," said Tello-Huila.
Fernando's talking about his walking papers. Border agents say federal jails are so overcrowded, illegal immigrants without a criminal background may be released.
They're given a future court date to appear before an immigration judge and if they promise to appear, they're set free.
Fernando's court date is March 30 in Houston.
"I'm thankful for the services and information the agents provide to help me travel freely through out the United States."
The problem is nearly 70 percent of the illegal immigrants never show up for their court date.
Congressman Solomon Ortiz says the illegals then simply get lost in the government's red tape.
"They're not about to show up, they spend money, they paid money to the coyote to come across and then to be here two months and then show up to be sent back, that's not going to happen."
We showed Congressman Ortiz the video of border agents at the bus station.
We ask him "how do you know these guys are not possible terrorists?"
Ortiz answers, "there's no way because we do not have any records. We need to have records from the country they're coming from and I know there's no records. What I am trying now to establish, it has been an uphill battle, is to talk to the embassies in those countries to come up with a program where we can exchange information until we have that, we don't know who they are."
In approximately six months, 15,000 illegal immigrants have been released in Texas with only a promise to return for their court hearing.
Ortiz says it's hard for the government to keep track of them because they usually change their names or buy someone else's identity.
"A terrorist is not going to come through the border with a "T" on their forehead, we don't know who they are and this of course concerns me very very much."
Congressman Ortiz says he's going to take the video of the illegal immigrants to Washington. He says he going to show it to congress to show them the breakdown at the border.
What procedures does the Border Patrol follow before releasing illegal immigrants.
Border Patrol supervisor Roy Cervantes says before the agency releases anyone from a special interest country, agents make sure they don't have a criminal history.
He says they run extensive background checks including fingerprints through numerous FBI data bases. He admits there's always room for error.
Because of Action 4 News investigation, Cervantes says they're looking into a new way of releasing illegal immigrants.
"Well because of this, the media attention, we're always looking for ways to do things better. Sometimes doing the right thing is not always the popular thing, we're going to continue doing the right thing and that's protecting America and enforcing immigration laws in the U.S."
Cervantes was instructed by the Border Patrol in Washington D.C. not to talk about the number of illegal immigrants from special interest countries being released on a daily bases.
In March we'll find out if Fernando, who traveled to the U.S. from Colombia shows up for his court date in Houston.
Do all OTM's get taken to the local bus stations, after they *promise* to appear ??
I guess they have it made if they make it through Mexico -- they have to pose as Mexicans in order to through there, but then they can revert to being what they are and not be sent back.
A show of 'security', what with the State Dept. warning.....cleaning up the border (a little) for the 'spring break' tourists....upcoming mex. elections. (all for show)
But turning loose 30K OTM's a year in TX (only), sure makes me wonder how many in all border states, yearly.....and if they are all simply turned loose on a *promise* to appear.
I'm not sure it's even for that --- they've been on the border well before 9-11 ---- Mexicans don't think they're there for good reasons. Many say they're protecting "their own" drug cartel from the competition or helping them get their deliveries made. The Mexican army is also used to keep the people in control ---- and while smuggling drugs into the USA is seen as a good thing for Mexico, smuggling weapons into Mexico is seen as a bad thing for the oligarchs they're paid to protect.
Oh, yeah.. tx for the ping to this, NRT. BUMP^
Wow, that's interesting. Mexicans don't think they're there for good reasons.
I agree......probably protecting both drug & people smugglers
I'm sure it is happening currently ---- the Mexican army is still all over the border still. If they find Hondurans or Guatemalans or Salvadorans on their side of the border--- they will arrest them --- but they of course leave Mexicans alone after they look for weapons and drugs and money on them. I'm not sure why they arrest the OTM's --- because they know they're on their way to the USA and at that point they're close to leaving Mexico anyhow.
I studied in Mexico, stayed with families, traveled around a lot there. And I live close to the border --- and a lot of the problems of course spill over to this side. You can't avoid hearing about a lot of it. For example if something comes on about ending corruption in Mexico --- it's Mexicans who will immediately scoff at that and fill you in on why it's not going to happen. They say it's because EVERYONE is corrupt over there. It's Americans who are naive about Mexico not the Mexicans.
Next Stop, Mexifornia!
six days later more illegal immigrants were set free, free to travel anywhere they want in the U.S.
On January 17, the Border Patrol releases a dozen or so illegal immigrants. We're told they're from El Salvador.
On another day, Action 4 News cameras caught four men from Brazil sitting at the bus station.
Four months ago, law enforcement in El Salvador warned the U.S. that Al Qaeda may be recruiting gang members there.
Cervantes was instructed by the Border Patrol in Washington D.C. not to talk about the number of illegal immigrants from special interest countries being released on a daily bases.
Well. This is just peachy.
One would think they would at LEAST make them walk to the damn bus station. Oh hell no, give `em a ride and a wink.
Just frickn great. Mere words absolutly fail me.
Exactly. Just look at the billion dollar UAV program for the Border Patrol. They reported the the UAV's spotted over 800,000 illegals entering the country, but the on article that told how many of those 800,000+ were apprehended has disappeared into thin air.
They apprehended just over 1,200 illegals with their billion dollar toys. Not a very good way to spend the tax payer money, but what you'll hear is how good it was at spotting those 800,000 and how good it will be to buy 10 more and operate them for the good of border security.
And of course, the sheeple and open border crowd will agree,
Seriously, no, but a whole lot do.
GW Bush took an oath to uphold the laws of the United States. Is he keeping it?
Your probable right.
I am sorry, I won't let you use that excuse. GWB absolutely must know about this<<<
I was not excusing GWB on this one. Imeant he was IGNORING the problem.
He's a lot like a democrat in this respect "If I dont acknowledge the problem, it will go away, or people will forget...etc.
Bush needs to WAKE UP!
Even the illegal immigration apologists out there have to admit, this is just plain f@#king insane!
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