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| Mara Salvatrucha member busted in Brownsville |
| 2004-12-08 |
| A member of the notorious Central American gang Mara Salvatrucha was arraigned Tuesday in federal court for attempting to illegally cross into Brownsville last week. According to Border Patrol records, Francky Sanchez-Solorzano, 21, was arrested by Border Patrol on Thursday night as he and 13 others crossed the Rio Grande into Texas east of the Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates. "Across the (McAllen) sector, he is the fourth or fifth (Mara) we have caught in the last several years," said Senior Border Patrol agent Daniel Doty, adding that many others in the group were classified as "other than Mexican." Sanchez-Solorzano — from San Pedro Sula, Honduras — told Border Patrol agents he was headed to Miami and paid a Mexican smuggler 1,000 pesos to cross the river. It is unknown why Sanchez-Solorzano was headed to Miami, but U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz, D-Texas, said intelligence sources reported a meeting between the Maras and al-Qaida as recently as six months ago. Ortiz called the Central American gang "dangerous" and said they have cells in major cities across the United States. "I would like to compliment the Border Patrol," Ortiz said of Sanchez-Solorzano's capture. "This is very significant." Sanchez-Solorzano was arraigned Tuesday morning by U.S. Magistrate Judge John William Black, who gave him time served on a charge of illegal entry. Doty said Sanchez-Solorzano — whose affiliation with the Maras became known through the gang's distinctive tattoos — will be deported and returned to Honduras. Sgt. Dionicio Cortez, a gang investigator with the Cameron County Sheriff's Department, described Mara Salvatrucha members as "very deadly" and "ruthless." The gang is involved in illegal money-making activities such as drug smuggling, human trafficking and murder for hire, he said. Cortez said the gang started more than 20 years ago in the streets of Los Angeles, but is now-based in Central American nations of El Salvador and Honduras with members ages 11-40. "Many from the older generation were guerrillas in the civil war of (El Salvador)," he said. Cortez said another Maras member from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, remains in county jail after being arrested in October for auto theft in San Benito. "They're not here to take over the gangs here because there are too many for them to handle," said Cortez, who noted the gang uses the Rio Grande Valley as a transit point to other destinations. Ortiz's spokeswoman Cathy Travis said the House and Senate are hearing a bill that would increase funds to increase border security to combat terrorism and organized crime. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #4 According to Border Patrol records, Francky Sanchez-Solorzano, 21, was arrested by Border Patrol on Thursday night as he and 13 others crossed the Rio Grande into Texas east of the Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates. Just think: had this guy gotten at least ten or more miles away from the border area, he probably would have been home free. The Border Patrol doesn't seem to do anything to anyone once that distance has been covered. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-12-08 4:51:39 PM |
| #3 As I posted yesterday, the immigration issue is scheduled to be the first item Congress addresses after the Christmas holidays - at least that's what the Pubs will push. Immigration issues have been existent for decades, guys. Just because it got "hot" in your view changes nothing about the political realities. Bush will tackle it and get the best he can out of the Congress. It's not like he's shy and retiring. He knows it's important and he knows the situation better than any of us who aren't Border Agents. My understanding is that it was one of the keystones of his original plans - until 9/11 cleared the decks and took priority. Political reality doesn't allow microwaving issues to suit. Sigh. He'll go after it - give him your support for doing so. Wanna excrete some bile? Pick on Clinton's 8 years of feel-good bullshit - this issue was just as obvious and just as important for that entire period, too. At least Bush isn't a candy-pants self-promoting phantasy-bound phuckwit. |
| Posted by: .com 2004-12-08 1:35:00 PM |
| #2 Either a different President or a Congress that is willing to do write some Necessary and Proper laws. |
| Posted by: jackal 2004-12-08 1:16:41 PM |
| #1 Will the Bush admin please get serious about cracking down on illegal immigration? What will it take for this country to develop a policy that advances our interests rather than Vicente Fox's? |
| Posted by: lex 2004-12-08 10:24:51 AM |