| El Salvadoran women fall
victim to bandits - Group of immigrants attacked on banks of Rio Grande
(Note: What is missing from this headline, and from the body of the article, is that these 'victims' are illegals and are thus already cognizant of their criminality. While it does not diminish from the crimes, these crimes would likely not have occurred had the 'victims' been honorably immigrating to achieve citizenship. Coming to America illegally and dishonorably opens the door to many crimes from many sources. What seems to almost always go completely unmentioned is that these illegal invaders pay others to bring them across America's sovereign border illegally. Doing so makes them immediately criminals, just like those they pay. Arguments may be made regarding the degree of criminality, but Mexico has its own way of dealing with those within its borders illegally: http://www.propertyrightsresearch.org/2006/articles04/brutal_life_for_immigrants _in_me.htm and http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/ts_comments.php?id=P70638_0_10_0 "Deputies will not arrest someone for entering the country illegally, which is a violation of federal law.")
May 11, 2006
The Monitor McAllen, Texas To submit a Letter to the Editor: letters@themonitor.com
Just after crossing the Rio Grande, bandits ambushed the group in a wooded area. All 25 men and women were forced to disrobe and lay face-down in the dirt near a ravine by the river bank. Then, at least three women were sexually assaulted at gunpoint. There are allegations that most of the women were inappropriately touched. Border Patrol agents found the group walking along a dirt road toward Granjeno after the incident occurred. The three to four bandits, who the U.S. Border Patrol and Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino said may be part of a human smuggling ring, are possibly connected to the rape of a woman in her 20s during broad daylight Saturday in the same area. Trevino describes the prime suspect in the two incidents as a Hispanic male, 6 feet tall and 200 pounds with a distinctive Charro tattoo on his chest. A Charro is a traditional Mexican folk icon. The sheriff’s department is the lead investigative agency in the case, however both agencies are working closely together. “Local police officers are not Border Patrol agents,” said Trevino, reiterating a strong belief of his. Deputies will not arrest someone for entering the country illegally, which is a violation of federal law. However, the department will make sure that those who committed these despicable acts are brought to justice, he said. The victims were in Border Patrol custody in McAllen on Wednesday, as agents and deputies interviewed them. Several victims were taken back to where they were ambushed to accurately make their report. Law enforcement officials infer that many sexual assaults like these go unreported. Only three women wanted to press charges for sexual assault, Trevino said, while two other women agreed to file charges against the bandits for robbery. The immigrants’ unwillingness to file charges may stem from fear. Trevino said he will work with consular officials so that the victims can testify against the men who assaulted them. It will take a lot of paperwork and removing a lot of bureaucratic red tape, but “I want to renew local agreements,” he said. Illegally coming to the United States involves several risks, Trevino said, stressing immigrants should enter this country through legal means. One risk is to get caught by the Border Patrol, he said, but more and more, immigrants are greatly suffering at the hands of human traffickers.
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