Mara gang member arraigned after attempt to enter Brownsville

The Brownsville Herald ^ | Dec. 8, 2004 | SERGIO CHAPA

[Marine Inspector]

A member of the notorious Central American gang Mara Salvatrucha was arraigned Tuesday in federal court for attempting to illegally cross into Brownsville last week.

According to Border Patrol records, Francky Sanchez-Solorzano, 21, was arrested by Border Patrol on Thursday night as he and 13 others crossed the Rio Grande into Texas east of the Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates.

“Across the (McAllen) sector, he is the fourth or fifth (Mara) we have caught in the last several years,” said Senior Border Patrol agent Daniel Doty, adding that many others in the group were classified as “other than Mexican.”

Sanchez-Solorzano — from San Pedro Sula, Honduras — told Border Patrol agents he was headed to Miami and paid a Mexican smuggler 1,000 pesos to cross the river.

It is unknown why Sanchez-Solorzano was headed to Miami, but U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz, D-Texas, said intelligence sources reported a meeting between the Maras and al-Qaida as recently as six months ago. Ortiz called the Central American gang “dangerous” and said they have cells in major cities across the United States.

“I would like to compliment the Border Patrol,” Ortiz said of Sanchez-Solorzano’s capture. “This is very significant.”

Sanchez-Solorzano was arraigned Tuesday morning by U.S. Magistrate Judge John William Black, who gave him time served on a charge of illegal entry.

Doty said Sanchez-Solorzano — whose affiliation with the Maras became known through the gang’s distinctive tattoos — will be deported and returned to Honduras.

Sgt. Dionicio Cortez, a gang investigator with the Cameron County Sheriff’s Department, described Mara Salvatrucha members as “very deadly” and “ruthless.”

The gang is involved in illegal money-making activities such as drug smuggling, human trafficking and murder for hire, he said.

Cortez said the gang started more than 20 years ago in the streets of Los Angeles, but is now-based in Central American nations of El Salvador and Honduras with members ages 11-40.

“Many from the older generation were guerrillas in the civil war of (El Salvador),” he said.

Cortez said another Maras member from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, remains in county jail after being arrested in October for auto theft in San Benito.

“They’re not here to take over the gangs here because there are too many for them to handle,” said Cortez, who noted the gang uses the Rio Grande Valley as a transit point to other destinations.

Ortiz’s spokeswoman Cathy Travis said the House and Senate are hearing a bill that would increase funds to increase border security to combat terrorism and organized crime.

schapa@brownsvilleherald.com

[Marine Inspector]

Ping

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[MeekOneGOP]

It is unknown why Sanchez-Solorzano was headed to Miami, but U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz, D-Texas, said intelligence sources reported a meeting between the Maras and al-Qaida as recently as six months ago. Ortiz called the Central American gang “dangerous” and said they have cells in major cities across the United States.

“I would like to compliment the Border Patrol,” Ortiz said of Sanchez-Solorzano’s capture. “This is very significant.”

Sanchez-Solorzano was arraigned Tuesday morning by U.S. Magistrate Judge John William Black, who gave him time served on a charge of illegal entry.

Doty said Sanchez-Solorzano — whose affiliation with the Maras became known through the gang’s distinctive tattoos — will be deported and returned to Honduras.

Huh?

Time out here. This thug was KNOWN to have had a meeting with al-Qaeda and their only intention is to DEPORT him?

I'm hoping this is just bad REPORTING here. Man.

[Route101]

It does'nt take much to imagine who else has come in here already.....

[drt1]

This whole immigration thing is pure INSANITY. I had the same reaction when I read the incredible fact that the Judge sentenced this menace to time served and that they would return him to Honduras. Once released he will undoubtedly make another, successful, attempt at illegally entering. A Damned Mess!

[nw_arizona_granny]

Ping

[junta]

William Lind (if I can even mention his name here) wrote recently that the LA county sheriffs dept. has been studying Fourth Generation warfare theory on account of these immigrant gangs. But now with the Ninth circuit this chump can appeal his deprotation seemingly forever.

[Happy2BMe]

BTT

[infowars_victory]

Relax, just a guest worker. Hopefully the rest of his buddies don't get with the "program". NO AMNESTY!!!

[meenie]

We have a war on terror, a war on drugs, and this man gets released for time served. Surely incidents such as this get passed up the intelligence chain of command. This has to be approved at the highest levels of our government. Has our new AG, Alberto Gonzalez placed his stamp of La Raza approval on this? We are being dismantled as a functioning national government in order to establish a New World Order by the powers that be.

[Velveeta]

He was released??!!??
Oh, brother.

[infowars_victory]

Silencio! says Alberto

Great to see someone with their eyes open to the NWO. Strengthen our borders, strengthen our republic.

[wildbill]

People who talk about 'increasing border security' simply have never been to the border. I used to hunt whitewing doves on a tract in the valley that lay on the Rio Grande.

Kids from Mexico waded across to act as 'bird finders' when the birds went down in the brush or weeds. The river is simply no barrier to crossing along most of the border.

[gubamyster]

ping

[AuntB]

"This thug was KNOWN to have had a meeting with al-Qaeda and their only intention is to DEPORT him?"

That is why we need border/immigration reform!

Last night Jim Sensenbrenner, when asked why the Senate and White House would not consider the provisions for immigration...which the House passed in HB10 by 68%, said:

"Because they were unilling to stand up to the illegal alien lobby."

Those big money donors for MALDEF (Soros, Ford Foundation, AARP, etc), can be found at:
http://ccir.net/REFERENCE/MALDEF-2002-2003.html

[Travis McGee]

Illegal immigration-Al Queda link.

[texastoo]

Illegal immigration-AlQueda link.

Are you sure you want to mention this? I think some people aren't going to like this.

[texastoo]

Just want to make sure all these OBLs see this.

[texastoo]

Just curious, was this mentioned before the vote on intelligence? I didn't hear about this locally, but that doesn't mean that it wasn't on the news locally.