Posted on 05/21/2017 6:11:57 PM PDT by jazusamo
Cal State Los Angeles student and "undocumented" immigrant Claudia Rueda, 22, got up Thursday morning to move her family's car (you don't want your car parked on the street on street cleaning day), and when she exited the car she was met by Border Patrol agents and detained . By Friday night, Rueda had been transferred to ICE custody for removal proceedings. That much of the story is not in dispute.
Rueda's attorney and friends say the actions are retaliatory and that she was individually targeted Thursday because she's an activist for (illegal) immigrant rights. Rueda's mother was detained in April when a "large scale drug bust" was conducted at their apartment complex, and Rueda has organized public rallies demanding her release. According to Rueda's supporters, her mother was cleared of any connection to the drug operation but is still facing deportation.
Besides, they claim, Rueda is eligible for DACA, but just couldn't get enough money together for the fees.
. @CBPLosAngeles @CustomsBorder @CBPSanDiego release #DACA eligible youth back to her family and loved ones!
There's more to the story, though. Late Thursday, the Border Patrol released a statement indicating the sweep was not targeted at Rueda individually, but aimed "disrupting and dismantling criminal organizations engaged in illicit cross-border smuggling."
This morning, U.S. Border Patrol agents conducted enforcement actions in Los Angeles, Calif., targeting multiple individuals at numerous locations. This enforcement action resulted from a criminal investigation of a cross-border narcotics smuggling organization. The Border Patrol targeted individuals who are associated with that organization. Agents arrested these individuals for federal immigration violations. The U.S. Border Patrol is committed to enhancing the safety of communities by disrupting and dismantling criminal organizations engaged in illicit cross-border smuggling.
The criminal investigation referenced involves Rueda's father, Hugo Rueda, 50, who was arrested in that April drug bust after Border Patrol agents found 50 bundles of cocaine, weighing 33 pounds, in his vehicle. Authorities searched another vehicle Hugo was "safekeeping" at the complex and found an ounce of crystal meth and a bundle of cash. When Claudia's mother granted authorities consent to search the family's apartment, they found a duffle bag full of cash ($600,000 once counted).
Claudia and her mother both deny being part of the drug trade. In an LA Times article about the April arrests, Capt. Darren Harris of the LASD said the group could be part of a Mexican cartel.
“These are high-risk takedowns with lives at risk. This can be the cartel,” Harris said. “This case involves nearly a million dollars in drugs and cash.”
Mark Endicott, a supervisory agent with the Border Patrol in San Diego, said "each person targeted Thursday, including Rueda, had been identified as 'part of a support network' for the drug organization" and that "the intent of the enforcement effort was to disrupt the entire organization."
In a statement late Friday, an ICE spokesperson said, "She has been placed in removal proceedings.… It will now be up to an immigration judge ... to determine whether Ms. Rueda has a legal basis to remain in the U.S. or will be ordered removed.”
Make Jose Vargas next please.
“she should be branded on the forehead with the “D” for deported”
That might be called inhuman, but they might be given a choice of many years in prison as an alternative.
If you’re a criminal, it doesn’t help your case to broadcast it to the world.
Amen!
If her activities called unwanted attention on the address she lived at, that might cause her some more problems.
I say “It’s about time” lets trim some of that low hanging fruit!! ICE should be reviewing footage of every Obama and Clinton gathering and identifying every illegal immigrant that dared to flaunt their lawlessness! Do it for the Children! No more growing up being told to LIE to authority. No more being taught NOT to talk about your friends or family. No more being FORCED to lie to teachers and other students about where you are from. No more breaking multiple federal laws EVERY DAY by using fake documentation or social security numbers. We need to SAVE THE CHILDREN of illegal immigrants from their abuse and disregard for the rule of law in a country where there are ways to immigrate legally.
Is this really true and can you point me to the source? Thank you
cant afford daca fees but had better part of a million bucks in cash in the apartment?
Sounds like she's documented now.
Does "she's an activist for (illegal) immigrant rights" mean Mexico as trying to influence our election? Were any Democrats working with them?
Bump!
I love a happy ending and pray this is her ending in the US.
If you ride around in a stolen car screaming through a bull horn that you are riding around in a stolen car, eventually a cop will notice.
Here in NJ the illegals have no fear at all; it is a sanctuary state, and apparently they’ve informed the illegals that they are needed just to populate the areas abandoned by fleeing Americans - including housing, classrooms, store aisles, etc.
Off topic,but we got lost in Kearny,NJ about 45 years ago.
Everytime I see your name I think about it.
Lordy,what a night.
.
You were lucky; 45 years ago you could find English speakers who could give you directions. I live in the “Anglo quarter”, but the town has become heavily Hispanic since then. Not so bad a place to live, but we have high property taxes.
So I have a question... In what universe would someone still be breathing if they weren’t beyond up to their eyeballs in the cartel if they lost $600k in cash?
Anyone else, they’d be a bunch of candles on the roadside, but if you’re deeply connected, you can lose such vast amounts of cash and it’ll be considered a ‘cost of doing business’ in the drug trade.
I wish it was retaliation; that’d be awesome. But the reality is that this was just another in a long long long series of cartel detentions and the worst part is they’ll simply get a free ride back to Mexico and return in a week or so to lead yet another rally at the school (oh, and make more money off drugs and murder.)
They love Mexico, but they don't want to go back home.
They are described as hard-working and family oriented. In short, the perfect citizens. Why is Mexico so desperate to get rid of them
Who can solve this mystery???
bump
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CA Immigrant Youth @CIYJA