U.S. Border Violence, Human Trafficking
John W. Slagle
February 01, 2006
Assaults against U.S. Border Patrol Agents in Arizona have been increasing once again. Shots fired at Agents patrolling remote smuggling corridors from Douglas, Nogales and the Tohono Odham Indian Nation is news rarely presented in the media.
The frequency of “rock attacks” along Border city fences require a specially fortified patrol vehicle to protect the driver or passengers. A thick steel mesh braced with rods cover windows and headlights to repel “incoming stones” as well as improvised Molotov weapons. Gasoline saturated rags wrapped around rocks, ignited and tossed at agents is common.
Through the years, many Agents have been severely injured by “Barrages of Stones” thrown or dropped” on vehicles. The lethal intent is obvious.
Armed encounters with human or contraband traffickers, physical assaults, gunfire incidents were all reported to the F.B.I. In 2005 there were 778 major assaults directed against agents in Tucson Sector.
Arizona continues to be a main channel for illegal immigration, a staging site for human smuggling as well narcotics. Millions of illegal aliens have crossed the Arizona deserts since September 11, 2001 and there is no end in sight as long as the political will in Washington welcomes the invasion.
Violence between competing smuggling organizations has resulted in gunfire exchange between vehicles along I-10, injuries to deaths. The drop houses in Phoenix which receive loads of transported aliens are found in all sections of the City from upscale Scottsdale to the slums.
The people who deal in the human flesh trade, from transporters, enforcers to safe house guards are true Vultures of society without compassion or any sense of humanity. Similar to narcotics stash houses, the “cash crop” is protected at all times, until smuggling fees are in hand. Extortion, kidnapping, rape and murder are a part of daily business.
Once a load of illegal aliens arrive at a safe house, a phone is available for calls to relatives in the United States. A Western Union Money Gram is requested for the transportation fee which can be from $1500 up depending on final destination. Due to bandit activity along the borders,groups of aliens robbed at gunpoint by other aliens is a decades old problem and few bring any substantial cash. The credit system of smuggling is still alive and well for the first transportation stage but most criminals require “money up front” to continue the operation.
The illegal alien groups are “packed into safe houses” and held until illicit expenses are paid. The drop houses are usually rented and devoid of all furniture to accommodate as many as people as possible.
The U.S. Border Patrol using horses have been effective on bandit patrol duties for many years from San Diego to El Paso. Anti-smuggling Special Agents have infiltrated, gained prosecutable evidence against organized smuggling rings, obtained search warrants and made countless arrests.
8 USC 1324, a Criminal Law states that any person transporting, harboring, smuggling with knowledge or intent is subject to a $5,000 fine and 5 years in prison per alien. The law itself is great, yet Federal Magistrates rarely impose maximum penalties against Smugglers unless death or firearms are involved. With little fear of the law, and short periods of incarceration if arrested, trafficking in illegal foreign nationals is a very profitable criminal activity. These criminal felons will smuggle anyone for a price including terrorist factions.
Those that wish the destruction of this nation are already here and residing among the millions of other lawbreakers. As long as elected leaders fail to make decisions on vital immigration reform issues, strict enforcement of the laws, illegal entries will never cease, nor the threat of foreign terrorists diminish. Organized alien smuggling operations will continue to flourish and people’s lives will continue be at risk.
The frequency of “rock attacks” along Border city fences require a specially fortified patrol vehicle to protect the driver or passengers. A thick steel mesh braced with rods cover windows and headlights to repel “incoming stones” as well as improvised Molotov weapons. Gasoline saturated rags wrapped around rocks, ignited and tossed at agents is common.
Through the years, many Agents have been severely injured by “Barrages of Stones” thrown or dropped” on vehicles. The lethal intent is obvious.
Armed encounters with human or contraband traffickers, physical assaults, gunfire incidents were all reported to the F.B.I. In 2005 there were 778 major assaults directed against agents in Tucson Sector.
Arizona continues to be a main channel for illegal immigration, a staging site for human smuggling as well narcotics. Millions of illegal aliens have crossed the Arizona deserts since September 11, 2001 and there is no end in sight as long as the political will in Washington welcomes the invasion.
Violence between competing smuggling organizations has resulted in gunfire exchange between vehicles along I-10, injuries to deaths. The drop houses in Phoenix which receive loads of transported aliens are found in all sections of the City from upscale Scottsdale to the slums.
The people who deal in the human flesh trade, from transporters, enforcers to safe house guards are true Vultures of society without compassion or any sense of humanity. Similar to narcotics stash houses, the “cash crop” is protected at all times, until smuggling fees are in hand. Extortion, kidnapping, rape and murder are a part of daily business.
Once a load of illegal aliens arrive at a safe house, a phone is available for calls to relatives in the United States. A Western Union Money Gram is requested for the transportation fee which can be from $1500 up depending on final destination. Due to bandit activity along the borders,groups of aliens robbed at gunpoint by other aliens is a decades old problem and few bring any substantial cash. The credit system of smuggling is still alive and well for the first transportation stage but most criminals require “money up front” to continue the operation.
The illegal alien groups are “packed into safe houses” and held until illicit expenses are paid. The drop houses are usually rented and devoid of all furniture to accommodate as many as people as possible.
The U.S. Border Patrol using horses have been effective on bandit patrol duties for many years from San Diego to El Paso. Anti-smuggling Special Agents have infiltrated, gained prosecutable evidence against organized smuggling rings, obtained search warrants and made countless arrests.
8 USC 1324, a Criminal Law states that any person transporting, harboring, smuggling with knowledge or intent is subject to a $5,000 fine and 5 years in prison per alien. The law itself is great, yet Federal Magistrates rarely impose maximum penalties against Smugglers unless death or firearms are involved. With little fear of the law, and short periods of incarceration if arrested, trafficking in illegal foreign nationals is a very profitable criminal activity. These criminal felons will smuggle anyone for a price including terrorist factions.
Those that wish the destruction of this nation are already here and residing among the millions of other lawbreakers. As long as elected leaders fail to make decisions on vital immigration reform issues, strict enforcement of the laws, illegal entries will never cease, nor the threat of foreign terrorists diminish. Organized alien smuggling operations will continue to flourish and people’s lives will continue be at risk.
Print
Email
