Members of border-straddling Tohono O'odham tribe involved in humantrafficking

Senate panel meets in Valley on growing border violence

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/04/21/20...


Apr. 21, 2009 12:00 AM


The Arizona Republic
Three U.S. senators promised to funnel more federal money to Arizona
after they heard local officials complain about how Mexican cartels
have taken a toll on the state.


"The cartels are the cause of an enormous amount of human suffering
and crime, kidnapping and human smuggling," said Sen. Joe Lieberman,
who chairs the Senate panel that held a 3½ hour hearing in Phoenix on
Monday. "Arizona and the other border states are paying
disproportionately for that problem."


The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
came to Phoenix to listen to local officials who deal with the
effects
of criminal organizations that smuggle humans and drugs into the
United States. Arizona Republican senators John McCain, a member of
the committee, and Jon Kyl were part of Monday's panel.


Lieberman promised to ramp up screening for southbound border
traffic,
a known route for weapons and cash destined for Mexico. He also
supported a push by Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard to tighten
federal rules for gift cards and other "stored-value cards" which,
Goddard says, are used to launder money.


Earlier this month, Lieberman and Kyl sponsored an amendment to the
budget resolution that sets aside an additional $550 million, which
would be split among several federal agencies, toward border security
in fiscal 2010. About $40 million of that would be for state and
local
government, Lieberman said.


Monday's session is the latest in a flurry of similar hearings
lawmakers have held on border violence since cartel violence began
escalating in Mexico. Goddard, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and others
have previously testified about border violence.


On Monday, Gordon and Phoenix Police Chief Jack Harris said there are
daily kidnappings in addition to beatings, extortion attempts or
reports of human smugglers who rape undocumented immigrant women. In
2008, Phoenix reported 366 abductions, mostly related to drug or
human
smuggling.


Tohono O'odham Nation Chairman Ned Norris Jr. told the panel that
cartels have recruited tribe members to smuggle undocumented
immigrants and to transport narcotics. Daily, schoolchildren are
caught with drugs, he added.


"The Tohono O'odham Nation is in the midst of a crisis," Norris said.


Meanwhile, Gov. Jan Brewer repeated her call to have 250 National
Guard troops sent to the U.S.-Mexico border.


Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio provided written testimony because
he was traveling to New York for an appearance on Comedy Central's
political parody "The Colbert Report."

 

Euro:

Let's pretend for a second that I am with the staff of a powerful
Congressperson, just for the sake of argument, Ok? Or perhaps a MSM
journalist decided that you are up to something. Think about it, this
is your opportunity to be heard outside Usenet!

My question to you is: "How do you expect us to take you seriously?"

-Ramon

ps: Why are we bothering the nice folks whose concern are
motorcycles???