Thursday, November 27, 2003

America is a Land of Pilgrims and Pioneers It is not a land of immigrants pil·grim (p?l?gr?m) n. 4. One of the English Separatists who founded the colony of Plymouth in New England in 1620. *  im·mi·grant (?m??-gr?nt)  n. 1. A person who leaves one country to settle permanently in another. * WHEN THE PILGRIMS ARRIVED, THERE WAS NO COUNTRY. THEY WERE NOT IMMIGRANTS. pi·o·neer (p?'?-nîr?)  n. 1. One who ventures into unknown or unclaimed territory to settle.* MOST OF THE EARLY PIONEERS OPENED UP THE "WILD WEST" BEFORE IT WAS AN OFFICIAL PART OF ANYTHING. THEY WERE NOT IMMIGRANTS. America is not a land of immigrants. It was opened, settled and developed by pilgrims and pioneers. *Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Past Features    American Border Patrol Updates

Associated Press Man Suspected of Killing Cop Arrested A 19-year-old man suspected of killing a rookie officer and wounding another policeman was arrested in Mexico on Thursday and returned to California, authorities said. -- [David] A. Garcia quickly became the focus of the manhunt, and he was taken into custody Thursday in a residential area of Tijuana by Mexican authorities, Police Chief Tom Hoefel said.

David Garcia

KABC-TV -- Los Angeles - 6:45 pm Pacific Cop killer suspect arrested in Tijuana, extradited to U.S. David Garcia, the suspected killer of a Burbank police officer, was arrested in Tijuana, Mexico today. He was reportedly taken to the border and turned over to U.S. officials late this afternoon, according to a televised report. Garcia is reportedly not a Mexican citizen. More when it becomes available.

Arizona Daily Star -- Tucson Mexican coyote accused of abusing invaders An alleged people smuggler who authorities say stepped on a pregnant woman's belly and held a gun to her head while threatening her for refusing him sexually is also suspected in the attempted molestation of a 13-year-old girl. -- Jorge Luis Rodriguez- Rodriguez, of Agua Prieta, Sonora, is named in a federal complaint..... [Family values don't stop at the Rio Bravo]

Sacramento Bee Deal near for illegals left out of 1986 amnesty travesty Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has signed off on proposed settlements in two long-fought lawsuits, bringing tens of thousands of undocumented immigrants closer to obtaining legal status under a 1986 amnesty program, their attorneys announced Wednesday.

San Antonio Express-News Mexican drug smuggler gets 9 years Long-haul trucker Johnny De La Rosa said he knew about the 1,435 pounds of marijuana in the trailer of his rig, but not the 20 pounds of heroin hidden within it. -- That distinction didn't matter to U.S. 5th Circuit Judge Edward C. Prado. The judge whacked De La Rosa on Wednesday with a prison sentence of nine years...

Douglas (Arizona) Dispatch [Short-lived link] More on suspicious arrest of Ranch Rescue member A Ranch Rescue member, Casey James Nethercott, was arrested in Douglas Tuesday morning in connection with felony flight to avoid prosecution. -- "It's not because of those charges that he was arrested, it's because they're trying to get at Ranch Rescue," said Jack Foote, the national spokesman for the organization.

Agence France-Presse AILF's award-winning migrant turns out to be a spy US-based Chinese scholar Gao Zhan, once convicted by Beijing of spying for Taiwan, admitted in a US court illegally exporting militarily sensitive US computer technology to China. -- In a sensational twist to a saga which soured US-China relations two years ago, Gao pleaded guilty to exporting 80 micro-processors to China...

Arizona Daily Star -- Tucson Ex-border agent admits bribery, drug possession A former U.S. Border Patrol agent from Rio Rico could face life in prison after pleading guilty to drug possession and bribery Tuesday. -- Hector Hugo Esquinca admitted in federal court to possession of more than 53 pounds of cocaine and two counts of bribery.

San Antonio Express-News Border states may see fed aid for jails In a last-minute flurry of activity, the Senate passed a bill that would help U.S. border states and cities shoulder the burden of jailing undocumented workers arrested for crimes in the United States. -- The bill would provide up to $6.4 billion over seven years to reimburse states, with Texas and California receiving the lion's share of funding...

Arizona Republic -- Phoenix 6 indicted on illegal alien smuggling charges Six men accused of smuggling undocumented immigrants into Arizona and forcing them to pay ransom at gunpoint have been indicted by federal grand jurors. -- The defendants are accused of holding at least 32 undocumented immigrants last month at a Glendale drophouse in the 6500 block of North 67th Avenue.

Washington Times House will vote on alien reporting As part of the horse-trading to win votes for the prescription-drug bill, House Republican leaders promised to hold a vote on a bill requiring hospitals that treat illegal aliens to report them to federal authorities. -- The Medicare overhaul bill... includes $1 billion to reimburse hospitals for treating indigent illegal immigrants.