Tuesday - July 10, 2007

ICE Press Release on Capture of Illegal Alien Gang Members Leaves Me Cold

ICE, or the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency brags about capturing 124 gangsters in a June 6, 2007 press release.  Before I start with my criticisms, let's make this clear that I am not ridiculing the hard work of the officers who capture these criminals on a daily basis.  Rather, I am taking aim at the ridiculousness of a national policy that treats the symptoms of problem rather than the root causes.  You'll understand after reading the press release:

LOS ANGELES – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested six foreign nationals with ties to violent street gangs in the Southland during the past week, the latest actions in an ongoing ICE operation that has resulted in the arrest of 124 gang members in the last three months.

Among those arrested by ICE agents during the past week was Pedro Barboza-Serrano, 40, a Mexican national and reputed member of the Eastside Longos whose criminal record includes prior convictions on drug charges, robbery, burglary, and spousal battery. 

Barboza-Serrano is one of 56 suspected gang members indicted on federal criminal charges as part of the operation.  The criminal charges include drug and firearms offenses, and re-entry after deportation, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.  Barboza-Serrano, who pleaded not guilty to re-entry charges Monday, is scheduled to go on trial late next month.

Of the foreign nationals indicted in connection with the ICE investigation, 36 are in custody at this time.  The other 20 remain at large and are actively being sought.  At a news conference this morning, representatives from the United States Attorney’s Office and ICE unveiled wanted posters featuring two of those fugitives.  They include Gerber Antonio Oliva-Diaz, 39, a reputed member of the Florencia 13 gang who has prior arrests for murder, kidnapping to commit robbery, grand theft auto, and burglary.  In addition, Oliva-Diaz has also been charged 17 times for possession of a controlled substance.

In addition to the 36 individuals arrested on criminal charges, ICE agents arrested 88 suspected gang members on administrative immigration violations.  All told, ICE agents have taken 124 suspected gang members off the streets in the greater Los Angeles area over the last 90 days.

The indictments and arrests announced today are part of Operation Community Shield, an ongoing nationwide initiative in which ICE is partnering with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to address the public safety threat posed by transnational gangs.  A crucial component of that strategy is using criminal prosecutions to disrupt gang activity and dismantle the organizations.

“As part of our long-standing battle against streets gangs and organized crime, we have utilized many tactics, including the filing of immigration charges,” said Acting United States Attorney George S. Cardona.  “This concerted law enforcement effort has led to dozens of criminal aliens being removed from the communities that have suffered so much as a result of gang activity.”

The 56 foreign nationals indicted as part of this latest ICE investigation are linked to more than two dozen different street gangs – among them, MS-13, White Fence, the 18th Street Gang, the Black P-Stones, the Eastside Longos, the Villa Boys, and Los Primos.  During the investigation, ICE agents executed arrest warrants in communities throughout the Southland, including Los Angeles, San Fernando, Pasadena, Signal Hill, Long Beach, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Palmdale, and Ventura. 

“The foreign national gang members we’re targeting are career criminals - brutal thugs who, in many cases, prey on members of their own immigrant community,” said Julie L. Myers, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for ICE.  “We want to send a clear message to these gang members:  we will deal strongly with those who ignore our immigration laws and place our neighborhoods at risk.”

The majority of the gang members indicted in this investigation are Mexican, but the group also includes foreign nationals from Guatemala, El Salvador and Belize.  

About halfway down, one sweet little illegal immigrant, only here to do the crimes normal Americans won't, is charged with illegal re-entry, amongst a rather long list of crimes.  At what point will our politicians do their duty and secure our borders.  If our border with Mexico was patrolled in a serious manner, Pedro Barboza-Serrano and other alien criminals wouldn't be here in the first place. **This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email stiknstein-at-gmail-dot-com and let us know at what level you would like to participate. Trackposted to Planck's Constant, The Random Yak, Big Dog's Weblog, Right Voices, and Public Eye, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

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