Allan's Blog

All Border Patrols should impliment the ZERO TOLERANCE policy ASAP.  America will be a better place to live!

Border Patrol Goes Zero Tolerance

After pleading guilty to entering the country illegally, the Mexican immigrant from Veracruz told a federal judge here last week he came to the U.S. to earn money to pay for his mother’s funeral.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to pay off funeral expenses, or take care of a sick family member,” explained U.S. Magistrate Diana Saldaña, referring to the plight of another immigrant. “When you cross the Rio Grande, you’re going to be spending time in prison if the Border Patrol finds you—that’s the bottom line.”

The frank courtroom exchange has become a daily occurrence since Oct. 30, when the Border Patrol launched Operation Streamline-Laredo, a zero-tolerance campaign that prosecutes, jails and deports nearly every adult illegal immigrant that border agents catch.

The controversial operation has jammed local jails to capacity, strained the staff of the federal public defender’s office and sparked charges that immigrants’ due process rights are being violated. But it has been applauded by those favoring strict enforcement of immigration laws.

But at the Laredo federal courthouse last week, a mere two weeks after the program began, scores of ordinary people shared the halls where crooked officials, drug kingpins and human traffickers are brought to justice. They included bricklayers, construction workers, dishwashers and waitresses, all snared by agents after crossing the Rio Grande illegally.

The immigrants, in the same rumpled clothing they wore when arrested, were escorted up to the judge’s bench in groups of 18 or 20. After a Border Patrol officer read a charge that applied to the entire group, each immigrant called out “Culpable”—the Spanish word for guilty.

Limited legal resources

The judge repeatedly warned the immigrants—some of whom had been detained up to 10 times but not charged—that an arrest for a second offense could result in a more serious felony charge and a longer jail sentence.

“This whole thing about them catching you and sending you back isn’t going to happen anymore,” the magistrate warned.

Arthur Thomas, deputy U.S. marshal in Laredo, said beds in Laredo jails are full, forcing immigrants to be sent as far away as Waco and East Texas.

“We’re pleased because basically they’re enforcing the law,” said Louise Whiteford, president of the Houston-based Texans For Immigration Reform. “It’s long overdue.”

Border Patrol officials in Laredo say it is too early to gauge the operation’s effectiveness and declined a request for conviction statistics.

Laredo is the third Border Patrol sector on the Southwest border to implement zero-tolerance, and so far it is under way only in the metropolitan areas of Laredo.

In the Yuma sector in Arizona, Operation Streamline eventually resulted in a 68 percent reduction in apprehensions between fiscal years 2006 and 2007, and during the same period the Del Rio sector registered a 46 percent decline, Rivera said.

Hoping word spreads

Instead, they hope immigrants like Sylvia Licona Garcia will warn their friends about the new mandatory jail time. She was one of 70 immigrants, some from as far away as Kosovo and Sri Lanka, who were in holding cells last week at the Border Patrol’s north Laredo station.

Heard, but didn’t believe it

In the same holding area was Jaime Pinto Aguilar, a 38-year-old Nuevo Laredo man who waded the Rio Grande on Nov. 11. Pinto, who has a college degree in international commerce, said he had been unable to find a job for the past four months.

“I told my wife I had to go,” he said. “Christmas is coming, and I’m not going to leave my children without anything, and there were bills.”

Instead of finding a job washing dishes in a Laredo restaurant relatives told him about, Pinto spent four days in jail.

“I will not come back illegally, not for anything in the world,” Pinto said. “I was in jail with a bunch of felons.”

“People will hear of these cases, but in this community every day people are crossing,” said Anna Maria Pinto. “Immigrants are trying to get across to live the American dream, to find a job, to build a better life. But the consequences are very grave.”

All Border Patrols should impliment the ZERO TOLERANCE policy ASAP.  America will be a better place to live!

Border Patrol Goes Zero Tolerance

After pleading guilty to entering the country illegally, the Mexican immigrant from Veracruz told a federal judge here last week he came to the U.S. to earn money to pay for his mother’s funeral.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to pay off funeral expenses, or take care of a sick family member,” explained U.S. Magistrate Diana Saldaña, referring to the plight of another immigrant. “When you cross the Rio Grande, you’re going to be spending time in prison if the Border Patrol finds you—that’s the bottom line.”

The frank courtroom exchange has become a daily occurrence since Oct. 30, when the Border Patrol launched Operation Streamline-Laredo, a zero-tolerance campaign that prosecutes, jails and deports nearly every adult illegal immigrant that border agents catch.

The controversial operation has jammed local jails to capacity, strained the staff of the federal public defender’s office and sparked charges that immigrants’ due process rights are being violated. But it has been applauded by those favoring strict enforcement of immigration laws.

But at the Laredo federal courthouse last week, a mere two weeks after the program began, scores of ordinary people shared the halls where crooked officials, drug kingpins and human traffickers are brought to justice. They included bricklayers, construction workers, dishwashers and waitresses, all snared by agents after crossing the Rio Grande illegally.

The immigrants, in the same rumpled clothing they wore when arrested, were escorted up to the judge’s bench in groups of 18 or 20. After a Border Patrol officer read a charge that applied to the entire group, each immigrant called out “Culpable”—the Spanish word for guilty.

Limited legal resources

The judge repeatedly warned the immigrants—some of whom had been detained up to 10 times but not charged—that an arrest for a second offense could result in a more serious felony charge and a longer jail sentence.

“This whole thing about them catching you and sending you back isn’t going to happen anymore,” the magistrate warned.

Arthur Thomas, deputy U.S. marshal in Laredo, said beds in Laredo jails are full, forcing immigrants to be sent as far away as Waco and East Texas.

“We’re pleased because basically they’re enforcing the law,” said Louise Whiteford, president of the Houston-based Texans For Immigration Reform. “It’s long overdue.”

Border Patrol officials in Laredo say it is too early to gauge the operation’s effectiveness and declined a request for conviction statistics.

Laredo is the third Border Patrol sector on the Southwest border to implement zero-tolerance, and so far it is under way only in the metropolitan areas of Laredo.

In the Yuma sector in Arizona, Operation Streamline eventually resulted in a 68 percent reduction in apprehensions between fiscal years 2006 and 2007, and during the same period the Del Rio sector registered a 46 percent decline, Rivera said.

Hoping word spreads

Instead, they hope immigrants like Sylvia Licona Garcia will warn their friends about the new mandatory jail time. She was one of 70 immigrants, some from as far away as Kosovo and Sri Lanka, who were in holding cells last week at the Border Patrol’s north Laredo station.

Heard, but didn’t believe it

In the same holding area was Jaime Pinto Aguilar, a 38-year-old Nuevo Laredo man who waded the Rio Grande on Nov. 11. Pinto, who has a college degree in international commerce, said he had been unable to find a job for the past four months.

“I told my wife I had to go,” he said. “Christmas is coming, and I’m not going to leave my children without anything, and there were bills.”

Instead of finding a job washing dishes in a Laredo restaurant relatives told him about, Pinto spent four days in jail.

“I will not come back illegally, not for anything in the world,” Pinto said. “I was in jail with a bunch of felons.”

“People will hear of these cases, but in this community every day people are crossing,” said Anna Maria Pinto. “Immigrants are trying to get across to live the American dream, to find a job, to build a better life. But the consequences are very grave.”

All Border Patrols should impliment the ZERO TOLERANCE policy ASAP.  America will be a better place to live!

Border Patrol Goes Zero Tolerance

After pleading guilty to entering the country illegally, the Mexican immigrant from Veracruz told a federal judge here last week he came to the U.S. to earn money to pay for his mother’s funeral.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to pay off funeral expenses, or take care of a sick family member,” explained U.S. Magistrate Diana Saldaña, referring to the plight of another immigrant. “When you cross the Rio Grande, you’re going to be spending time in prison if the Border Patrol finds you—that’s the bottom line.”

The frank courtroom exchange has become a daily occurrence since Oct. 30, when the Border Patrol launched Operation Streamline-Laredo, a zero-tolerance campaign that prosecutes, jails and deports nearly every adult illegal immigrant that border agents catch.

The controversial operation has jammed local jails to capacity, strained the staff of the federal public defender’s office and sparked charges that immigrants’ due process rights are being violated. But it has been applauded by those favoring strict enforcement of immigration laws.

But at the Laredo federal courthouse last week, a mere two weeks after the program began, scores of ordinary people shared the halls where crooked officials, drug kingpins and human traffickers are brought to justice. They included bricklayers, construction workers, dishwashers and waitresses, all snared by agents after crossing the Rio Grande illegally.

The immigrants, in the same rumpled clothing they wore when arrested, were escorted up to the judge’s bench in groups of 18 or 20. After a Border Patrol officer read a charge that applied to the entire group, each immigrant called out “Culpable”—the Spanish word for guilty.

Limited legal resources

The judge repeatedly warned the immigrants—some of whom had been detained up to 10 times but not charged—that an arrest for a second offense could result in a more serious felony charge and a longer jail sentence.

“This whole thing about them catching you and sending you back isn’t going to happen anymore,” the magistrate warned.

Arthur Thomas, deputy U.S. marshal in Laredo, said beds in Laredo jails are full, forcing immigrants to be sent as far away as Waco and East Texas.

“We’re pleased because basically they’re enforcing the law,” said Louise Whiteford, president of the Houston-based Texans For Immigration Reform. “It’s long overdue.”

Border Patrol officials in Laredo say it is too early to gauge the operation’s effectiveness and declined a request for conviction statistics.

Laredo is the third Border Patrol sector on the Southwest border to implement zero-tolerance, and so far it is under way only in the metropolitan areas of Laredo.

In the Yuma sector in Arizona, Operation Streamline eventually resulted in a 68 percent reduction in apprehensions between fiscal years 2006 and 2007, and during the same period the Del Rio sector registered a 46 percent decline, Rivera said.

Hoping word spreads

Instead, they hope immigrants like Sylvia Licona Garcia will warn their friends about the new mandatory jail time. She was one of 70 immigrants, some from as far away as Kosovo and Sri Lanka, who were in holding cells last week at the Border Patrol’s north Laredo station.

Heard, but didn’t believe it

In the same holding area was Jaime Pinto Aguilar, a 38-year-old Nuevo Laredo man who waded the Rio Grande on Nov. 11. Pinto, who has a college degree in international commerce, said he had been unable to find a job for the past four months.

“I told my wife I had to go,” he said. “Christmas is coming, and I’m not going to leave my children without anything, and there were bills.”

Instead of finding a job washing dishes in a Laredo restaurant relatives told him about, Pinto spent four days in jail.

“I will not come back illegally, not for anything in the world,” Pinto said. “I was in jail with a bunch of felons.”

“People will hear of these cases, but in this community every day people are crossing,” said Anna Maria Pinto. “Immigrants are trying to get across to live the American dream, to find a job, to build a better life. But the consequences are very grave.”

So Al Sharpton wants Dick Cheney to apologize for going to a hunting club that displayed the Confederate Flag.  Who the heck is he to ask ANYONE to apologize?  Has he once apologized about Tawana Brawley or the Duke Lacrosse fiasco.  He's ruined the lives of a bunch of decent kids.  WHY does the media give any coverage to this nobody???

DEAD-EYE DICK CHENEY IN DIXIE-FLAG FLAP

 By AUSTIN FENNER

 October 30, 2007 -- Dick Cheney went a- hunting for pheasant in Dutchess County yester day, trailed by an ambu lance embedded in a 15-SUV entourage in case the vice president's ticker - or trigger finger - went awry. But the veep only shot him self in the foot - by visiting the exclusive Clove Valley Rod & Gun Club in Union Vale, a sprawling preserve nestled along the western side of Clove Mountain, where a 5-foot-by-5-foot Confederate flag hung in a garage at tached to the club headquarters.

 The Stars and Bars were clearly vis ible from the open-doored garage; there were no signs of the Stars and Stripes elsewhere. "I am calling on Vice President Che ney to . . . denounce the club and apol ogize for going to a club that repre sents lynching, hate and murder to black people," the Rev. Al Sharpton said in a statement. "In this age of Jena and hangmen nooses all over the country, for the vice president to relax under the flag of the hangmen nooses is an unpardonable insult to all Americans, par ticularly blacks." A Cheney spokesman said the vice president never saw the flag. And for most in this small town of 4,500, the visit was barely noteworthy. "There really wasn't that much hoopla," said Town Supervisor Lisette Hitsman. "They only have to block off three town roads." Not that Cheney wasn't noticed. "When all of a sudden you have a bunch of white SUVs, then some black SUVs, then a whole lot of men with dark glasses, we knew it was Dick Cheney," Hitsman said. She noted the town's all-volunteer fire and rescue company was at-the-ready. Cheney spent about six hours hunting, enjoying near-perfect temperatures in the 50s. He was gone by 3:45 p.m. Deer hunter Bill Tryon, 48, who works on Clove Road, where Cheney's motorcade sped by in the morning, said he had no problem with the veep taking aim at the local game. "As long as he doesn't shoot anyone in the ass," Tryon said. Cheney became a punch line in 2006 after he sprayed a hunting companion, lawyer Harry Whittington, in Texas. The vice president came under fire for not going public with the incident for four days. Cheney called the mishap "one of the worst days" of his life. But Whittington graciously forgave his pal, and chided the media for being so hard on the veep.

So Al Sharpton wants Dick Cheney to apologize for going to a hunting club that displayed the Confederate Flag.  Who the heck is he to ask ANYONE to apologize?  Has he once apologized about Tawana Brawley or the Duke Lacrosse fiasco.  He's ruined the lives of a bunch of decent kids.  WHY does the media give any coverage to this nobody???

DEAD-EYE DICK CHENEY IN DIXIE-FLAG FLAP

 By AUSTIN FENNER

 October 30, 2007 -- Dick Cheney went a- hunting for pheasant in Dutchess County yester day, trailed by an ambu lance embedded in a 15-SUV entourage in case the vice president's ticker - or trigger finger - went awry. But the veep only shot him self in the foot - by visiting the exclusive Clove Valley Rod & Gun Club in Union Vale, a sprawling preserve nestled along the western side of Clove Mountain, where a 5-foot-by-5-foot Confederate flag hung in a garage at tached to the club headquarters.

 The Stars and Bars were clearly vis ible from the open-doored garage; there were no signs of the Stars and Stripes elsewhere. "I am calling on Vice President Che ney to . . . denounce the club and apol ogize for going to a club that repre sents lynching, hate and murder to black people," the Rev. Al Sharpton said in a statement. "In this age of Jena and hangmen nooses all over the country, for the vice president to relax under the flag of the hangmen nooses is an unpardonable insult to all Americans, par ticularly blacks." A Cheney spokesman said the vice president never saw the flag. And for most in this small town of 4,500, the visit was barely noteworthy. "There really wasn't that much hoopla," said Town Supervisor Lisette Hitsman. "They only have to block off three town roads." Not that Cheney wasn't noticed. "When all of a sudden you have a bunch of white SUVs, then some black SUVs, then a whole lot of men with dark glasses, we knew it was Dick Cheney," Hitsman said. She noted the town's all-volunteer fire and rescue company was at-the-ready. Cheney spent about six hours hunting, enjoying near-perfect temperatures in the 50s. He was gone by 3:45 p.m. Deer hunter Bill Tryon, 48, who works on Clove Road, where Cheney's motorcade sped by in the morning, said he had no problem with the veep taking aim at the local game. "As long as he doesn't shoot anyone in the ass," Tryon said. Cheney became a punch line in 2006 after he sprayed a hunting companion, lawyer Harry Whittington, in Texas. The vice president came under fire for not going public with the incident for four days. Cheney called the mishap "one of the worst days" of his life. But Whittington graciously forgave his pal, and chided the media for being so hard on the veep.

So Al Sharpton wants Dick Cheney to apologize for going to a hunting club that displayed the Confederate Flag.  Who the heck is he to ask ANYONE to apologize?  Has he once apologized about Tawana Brawley or the Duke Lacrosse fiasco.  He's ruined the lives of a bunch of decent kids.  WHY does the media give any coverage to this nobody???

DEAD-EYE DICK CHENEY IN DIXIE-FLAG FLAP

October 30, 2007 -- Dick Cheney went a- hunting for pheasant in Dutchess County yester day, trailed by an ambu lance embedded in a 15-SUV entourage in case the vice president's ticker - or trigger finger - went awry. But the veep only shot him self in the foot - by visiting the exclusive Clove Valley Rod & Gun Club in Union Vale, a sprawling preserve nestled along the western side of Clove Mountain, where a 5-foot-by-5-foot Confederate flag hung in a garage at tached to the club headquarters.

 The Stars and Bars were clearly vis ible from the open-doored garage; there were no signs of the Stars and Stripes elsewhere. "I am calling on Vice President Che ney to . . . denounce the club and apol ogize for going to a club that repre sents lynching, hate and murder to black people," the Rev. Al Sharpton said in a statement. "In this age of Jena and hangmen nooses all over the country, for the vice president to relax under the flag of the hangmen nooses is an unpardonable insult to all Americans, par ticularly blacks." A Cheney spokesman said the vice president never saw the flag. And for most in this small town of 4,500, the visit was barely noteworthy. "There really wasn't that much hoopla," said Town Supervisor Lisette Hitsman. "They only have to block off three town roads." Not that Cheney wasn't noticed. "When all of a sudden you have a bunch of white SUVs, then some black SUVs, then a whole lot of men with dark glasses, we knew it was Dick Cheney," Hitsman said. She noted the town's all-volunteer fire and rescue company was at-the-ready. Cheney spent about six hours hunting, enjoying near-perfect temperatures in the 50s. He was gone by 3:45 p.m. Deer hunter Bill Tryon, 48, who works on Clove Road, where Cheney's motorcade sped by in the morning, said he had no problem with the veep taking aim at the local game. "As long as he doesn't shoot anyone in the ass," Tryon said. Cheney became a punch line in 2006 after he sprayed a hunting companion, lawyer Harry Whittington, in Texas. The vice president came under fire for not going public with the incident for four days. Cheney called the mishap "one of the worst days" of his life. But Whittington graciously forgave his pal, and chided the media for being so hard on the veep.