Immigrants who survived sweltering truck get to stay in U.S. for a year

Houston Chronicle ^ | Oct. 6, 2003 | LISE OLSEN

[gubamyster]

Oct. 6, 2003, 5:06PM

By LISE OLSEN Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle

Forty would-be immigrants who survived the Victoria smuggling tragedy in May have been granted permission to stay and work in the United States for up to a year, federal officials said.

Immigration officials in Houston issued employment permits Saturday to those who survived being locked in an abandoned tractor trailer in which 19 others died.

The permits allow them to attempt to support themselves as prosecutors prepare for a June 2004 trial against nine people accused of operating a smuggling ring tied to the deaths. All of the survivors are considered potential material witnesses in the federal case.

In addition to the nine arrested thus far and accused of being involved in the smuggling operation, five others are being sought, according to a 58-count federal indictment returned on June 12.

In the incident, between 70 and 100 undocumented men, women and children from Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala were loaded onto a tractor trailer bound from the Rio Grande Valley to Houston. Each undocumented alien is believed to have been charged about $1,800 in smuggling fees for the trip, according to the indictment.

Nineteen died after all were trapped for hours in the overheated truck, which the driver abandoned in Victoria on May 14. One of those trapped dangled a bandana through a small hole to attract help.

Of as many as 80 survivors, 55 ultimately were rounded up and detained by immigration officials in Houston. Many were released about two weeks later after the Mexican consulate in Houston, along with others, agreed to post bond for them in immigration court.

At least three remain in custody because they previously had entered the United States illegally or have criminal records, authorities said.

Most of the remaining adult survivors also are expected to be issued work permits. At least seven of the survivors are under age 18.

Immigration officials would not say how many of the survivors remain in Houston.

[gubamyster]

ping

[xrp]

I wonder if I could speed 100mph on the 65mph speed limit highways and tell the judge/cops off. After all, if non-citizens don't have to obey our laws, why should citizens?

[Bikers4Bush]

Why? Get their signed sworn statments and send them home.

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[DustyMoment]

Works for me. I feel the same way, this is ridiculous.

[JustPiper]

Ping! They just get ALL the freakin' breaks!

[only1percent]

Sworn statements aren't admissable prosecution evidence in lieu of in-person testimony ... it's that tricky "right to confront witnesses against you."

One no more solves the problem of illegal immigration by prosecuting illegal aliens than one solves the problem of drug abuse by prosecuting crackheads. You have to hit the suppliers (the coyotes and traffickers like those being tried here) and the employers (by building a verification system for eligibility credentials, and aggressively prosecuting under-the-table employers).

[Bikers4Bush]

Then keep a few of them but there's no reason the allow them all to stay here.

[txdoda]

Why? >>>>>>>>

Because the US gov't NEVER misses a chance to REWARD any of our MILLIONS of criminal invaders.......

Did you see where our *new & improved* INS just *busted* 274 illegals working a T.J. Maxx ??? Looks like ALL had FRAUDULENT or COUNTERFEIT documents, but NONE are going to be prosecuted. (guess not deported, either)

[taxed2death]

..gotta love shrubs selective law enforcement policies.

He's the top dawg. He sets the tone for how cases are to be handled by his peons like Zigler, head of the "new" INS and son of illegals.....or Tom Ridge, who states "we can't close borders for cultural and political reasons".

So we can enforce whichever laws we feel like, and NOT enforce others, strictly "for political and cultural" reasons.

This country is being run by a bunch of freakin' nuts.

[T.Smith]

If they have children in the course of that year, will they be citizens?

[gubamyster]

If they have children in the course of that year, will they be citizens?

Presumably yes. The term is "anchor baby."

[Joe Hadenuf]

More fedgov insanity.....

[doc]

Why?

[ImpotentRage]

I just received a telephone call from the Republican National Committee requesting a donation to the Bush campaign. I told the lady that when President Bush closed the borders and stopped illegal aliens from invading our country I would write a check - until that time I would NOT be donating. She said that she would register my complaint. I am sure it will do a lot of good!!

[Viva Le Dissention]

No "presumably" to it. See US Const., Amend. 14.

[Joe Hadenuf]

We have told them the same, but not quite as nicely as you put it.

[jonalvy44]

erect crows nests and machine guns. seal the borders. think someone could win the presidency on that platform alone?

how about if we also deposit our habitually violent criminals S. of the border too, kinda like Escape from NY. Let Mexico know how we feel for once. hahah

[texastoo]

"This country is being run by a bunch of freakin' nuts."

No doubt we have been providing food, clothing, shelter and medical treatment for these illegals since May as they are just now getting work permits.

There is nothing like rewarding illegals for breaking our laws. (sarcasm)