Posted on 06/10/2005 5:16:04 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
GOLIAD - Federal, state and local law enforcement spent all day Thursday searching for more than 80 suspected illegal immigrants, including children, who fled onto ranchland near the La Bahia community south of Goliad.
By 8 p.m. Thursday, Goliad County Sheriff Robert DeLaGarza said only 24 out of the estimated 85 suspected illegal immigrants had been taken into custody despite efforts by U.S. Border Patrol and Texas Department of Criminal Justice, which provided horses and tracking dogs to aid in the search.
"The few we're finding are in the La Bahia area, and we certainly don't want residents there to be bothered tonight," DeLaGarza said. "My main concern is they're out there, there's nothing to drink, there's no food out there, and I'd hate to see someone get hurt."
He said he was particularly concerned about the numerous children ranging in age from 7 to 10 years who were seen fleeing into the pastures.
A Department of Public Safety helicopter and a Civil Air Patrol search and rescue team and plane were used to search from the air.
Victoria County Sheriff T. Michael O'Connor had located the civil defense aircraft late Thursday to continue the search until nightfall, since much of the activity was concentrated on property he owns, DeLaGarza said.
The Goliad sheriff said when the planes began flying over the pastures, several people came to the roads to be picked up.
One of the suspected smugglers was almost captured when he knocked on the door of an area home, but by the time deputies arrived, he had fled, he said.
DeLaGarza said he was called at home early Thursday by a resident on McGuill Road in south Goliad County who reported two passenger vans and a super-cab type truck traveling through the area at a high rate of speed.
The road by-passes a community known as Sarco, where residents have organized to stop human trafficking through their area. DeLaGarza noted the pressure in Sarco appears to be working, causing this suspected illegal caravan to try and find another route.
DeLaGarza said three deputies were dispatched to the area and caught up with the vehicles on U.S. Highway 183 south of state Highway 239. The truck drove through a fence, and both vans pulled over to let out about 30 suspected illegal immigrants each, the sheriff said.
"The first thing I heard, there were 30 illegals coming out of the van. I thought, 'That can't be right.' Then I heard another 30 were coming out of the other van," the sheriff said. When deputies got to the vehicles, they found that the seats had been removed, he said. The vans have been impounded, he added.
Border Patrol sent five units and six or seven agents to assist the county, DeLaGarza said. Between 10-15 TDCJ officers from both Stevenson unit in Cuero and Garza West unit in Beeville also responded, he said.
DeLaGarza said the group of illegals left one behind, a young woman who was exhausted and unable to keep up. Others who were caught later indicated about 85 people were in the caravan, he said. Also caught were several people in a separate vehicle that drove through later, he added.
DeLaGarza expected the search to end by nightfall, but will resume this morning.
"Although they're probably not going to hurt anybody, we don't know that. We have to take every precaution. We're notifying everyone in the LaBahia area," he said.
Robin M. Foster is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact her at 361-275-6319 or cueroadv@vicad.com.
If you have no reason to fear for your freedom, why run?
Round 'em All up!!!
Guess the kids had jobs waiting for them.
Goliad Ping!
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.
Well at least the Goliad PD gets it.
Just fleeing from vans that Americans don't want to flee from.
If a coyote could take one of those loads across each day that would an annual income of over 62 million dollars.
I'm surprised there is as little violence and corruption as reported.
Good for those residents.
Residents in Sarco join fight against immigrant smuggling
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1409647/posts
Good for these homeowners!!!! I'm SO happy they're taking matters into their own hands.
This is, afterall, THEIR PROPERTY that's being overrun.
That group of 50 [residents] who met Thursday asked Goliad County Attorney Rob Baiamonte how much force they can use to protect their property from these roving bands serves to underscore their frustration with border security and the immigration system as it exists today.
Not that I'm advocating violence, but...
Don't ask; don't tell.
Shoot
Shovel
Shut up
ol' hoghead
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/petoc.html
CHAPTER 9. JUSTIFICATION EXCLUDING CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY
SECTION 9.01. DEFINITIONS
SECTION 9.02. JUSTIFICATION AS A DEFENSE
SECTION 9.03. CONFINEMENT AS JUSTIFIABLE FORCE
SECTION 9.04. THREATS AS JUSTIFIABLE FORCE
SECTION 9.05. RECKLESS INJURY OF INNOCENT THIRD PERSON
SECTION 9.06. CIVIL REMEDIES UNAFFECTED
SECTION 9.21. PUBLIC DUTY
SECTION 9.22. NECESSITY
SECTION 9.31. SELF-DEFENSE
SECTION 9.32. DEADLY FORCE IN DEFENSE OF PERSON
SECTION 9.33. DEFENSE OF THIRD PERSON
SECTION 9.34. PROTECTION OF LIFE OR HEALTH
SECTION 9.41. PROTECTION OF ONES OWN PROPERTY
SECTION 9.42. DEADLY FORCE TO PROTECT PROPERTY
SECTION 9.43. PROTECTION OF THIRD PERSONS PROPERTY
SECTION 9.44. USE OF DEVICE TO PROTECT PROPERTY
SECTION 9.51. ARREST AND SEARCH
SECTION 9.52. PREVENTION OF ESCAPE FROM CUSTODY
SECTION 9.53. MAINTAINING SECURITY IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
SECTION 9.61. PARENT-CHILD
SECTION 9.62. EDUCATOR-STUDENT
SECTION 9.63. GUARDIAN-INCOMPETENT
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