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News for Public Officials |
A Line
in the Sand: Confronting the Threat at the Southwest Border
HOUSE
COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY - Interim Report
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Illegal
Alien Crimes Against U.S. Citizens
Not all illegal aliens are crossing into the United States to find work.
Law enforcement officials indicate that there are individuals coming across
the border who are forced to leave their home countries because of their
criminal activity. These dangerous criminals are fleeing the law in other
countries and seeking refuge in the United States. For instance, it is known
that many of the operatives of cartels in Mexico actually live in the United
States. Information received by several law enforcement agencies indicates
these criminals are living in our communities and that they come to the U.S.
to escape the possibility of apprehension in Mexico.
The Violent Crimes Institute conducted a 12 month in-depth study of
illegal immigrants who committed sex crimes and murders for the time period
of January 1999 through April 2006. This study makes it clear that the U.S.
faces a dangerous threat from sexual predators that cross the U.S. borders
illegally.
The Institute analyzed 1,500 cases in depth, including serial rapes,
serial murders, sexual homicides, and child molestation committed by illegal
immigrants. Police reports, Public Records, interviews with police, and
media accounts were all included. Offenders were located in thirty-six
states, with the most of the offenders were located in States with the
highest numbers of illegal immigrants. California was ranked first, followed
by Texas, Arizona, New Jersey, New York, and Florida.
Based on an estimated illegal immigrant population of 12,000,000 and the
fact that young males make up more of this population than the general U.S.
population, the Institute concluded that sex offenders in the illegal
immigrant group make up a higher percentage. ICE reports and Public Records
show sex offenders comprising 2% of illegals apprehended. Based on this 2%
figure, which is conservative, the Institute estimates that there are
approximately 240,000 illegal immigrant sex offenders in the United States.
The study concluded, when applied to ongoing illegal immigration at the
borders, these estimates translate to 93 sex offenders and twelve serial
sexual offenders coming across U.S. borders illegally per day. The 1,500
offenders in this study had a total of 5,999 victims. Each sex offender
averaged four victims. This puts the estimate for victimization numbers
around 960,000 for the 88 months examined in this study.
The violence of illegal aliens is not confined to border communities.
Residents and law enforcement in the interior cities are also vulnerable to
criminals crossing the border. The following are examples of crimes
committed by illegal aliens:
- In testimony before the House Committee on Homeland Security’s
Subcommittee
on Investigations, Carrie Ruiz, a Houston resident, described how her 17
year old
daughter was murdered in October 1999 by an illegal immigrant from
Venezuela
who escaped prosecution by returning to his home country. Ruiz’s daughter
was
stabbed more than thirty-nine times after she helped authorities identify
a gang
member.
- On February 10, 2005, a high-ranking member of the Mara Salvatrucha
(MS-13), was apprehended in Brooks County, Texas. He had been previously
deported at least four times. This MS-13 gang member is believed to have
been responsible for the killing of twenty-eight persons, including six
children, and the wounding of fourteen others, in a bus explosion in his
native country. Information was received in late April of this year that
he was on his way back into the United States, or that he was already in
the country, and was threatening to assassinate any officer that attempted
to apprehend him.
- On March 22, 2006, Texas State Trooper Steven Stone was shot six times
at point
blank range by two illegal aliens during a routine traffic stop. Ramon
Ramos and
Francisco Saucedo were charged with fourteen counts of aggravated assault
on a
public servant. An investigation showed that Ramos had been criminally
deported from the United States on two different occasions on Federal
weapons
and drug charges. Ramos had been living illegally in the United States for
approximately three to four years prior to the March 22 shooting.
On the night of the shooting, Ramos and Saucedo were in possession of
body armor, a rifle modified for automatic fire, a handgun modified for
automatic fire, 96 two or more handguns, numerous knives, drugs and
alcohol.
- On June 27, 2006, a teenage girl from Mexia, Texas was forced off the
road by two illegal aliens and kidnapped. She was sexually assaulted by
both men. The two illegals tried unsuccessfully to break her neck and
strangle her. They then dragged her out of the car and put her into a
ditch where they began kicking, beating, and stabbing her with broken
glass. She sustained massive injuries to her head, face and upper body.
After the suspects left her for dead, she was able to walk about one-half
mile to the nearest house and ask for help. The suspects are identified as
Noel Darwin Hernandez and Javier Guzman Martinez. An immigration hold has
been placed on each suspect.
- On September 21, 2006, in Houston, Texas an illegal immigrant from
Mexico, Juan Leonardo Quintero, was charged in with capital murder in the
shooting death of Houston Police Officer Rodney Johnson. Quintero had been
deported in the past. His record shows in 1998 he was charged with
indecency with a child.
On September 29, 2006, one week after Officer
Johnson was killed by an illegal alien, Houston Mayor Bill White announced
a change in the way Houston Police officers process suspected illegal
immigrants. The Houston police will fingerprint suspected illegal
immigrants detained on minor violations, and those with identification
police believe to be fraudulent. That information will then be provided to
Federal authorities.
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