A criminal? Who me? I’m a victim!
On its face, the concept of advocating on behalf of illegal aliens breaking into our country is bizarre. The United States has a generous, legal route to attain citizenship. Although the issue is routinely mischaracterized in the local press as cracking down on “immigrants,” there is a vast difference between those who enter legally and others who break in. Think of it as opening your door to welcome guests as opposed to having the door broken in and your home invaded.
Yet illicit entry is exactly what is being defended by Hispanic advocacy groups, deceptively calling themselves “immigrant rights advocates.”
The issue is Arizona’s 2005 law banning human smuggling, which specifies that illegals who pay coyotes to transport them into the United States can be criminally charged as co-conspirators. The going rate paid to enter varies between $2,000 – $6,000 per illegal.
Back in July 2008, we wrote that the Arizona Court of Appeals upheld the conviction of an illegal alien prosecuted as a co-conspirator under the state’s human-smuggling law. The court found the law’s wording to be clear and unambiguous — illegals can be convicted for conspiracy to smuggle themselves into the country. Read the Court’s opinion here affirming the appellant’s previous conviction and sentence in Superior Court.
Seventy-five percent of those charged under the smuggling statute in Maricopa County since its 2008 imposition have been charged with conspiring to sneak themselves into the country.
Now illegal advocates are threatening to bring a lawsuit seeking to bar such conspiracy prosecutions. Advocates for illegals are seeking class-action status that would let any person charged with conspiracy under the smuggling law join in the case.
Stay tuned.
In the meantime, for assistance in reading between the lines, we direct you to our popular post, Lingo.
Excellent and timely article, SRAZ!
Here’s my question!
If those coming here illegally utilizing the paid services of “coyotes” are paying $2,000 to $6,000 per head, how impoverished are they and do they really need to come here for a “better life”? That amount of money goes a long way in Mexico, for example, and even further in many Central and South American countries.
For a husband and wife, that would amount to $4,000 to $12,000! Do millions of illegal aliens have that kind of money on hand and, if so, why are they in need of coming to the U. S.?
Also, then, if someone hires a hitman they would be innocent if the principles being put forth by the leftists are upheld in court!
The hard fact is, crime is rampant among illegals. All types of crime. The big lie is that they are “just good people coming to do the work Americans refuse to do.” In this economy, you can bet there is not much Americans “refuse to do.” Read the crime logs in the press. Go to the Maricopa County mugshot site and click on any of the crimes at the top of the leader board. Hispanic criminals abound.
http://www.mcso.org/Mugshot/Default.aspx
Additionally those illegals already here send $$$ back to their friends and family in Mexico to hire coyotes. Crime reaps big rewards.
Wow! I just clicked on this link and looked at the arrests under “Criminal Tresspass and Burglary.” It looks like a 10 year reunion from any Nogales, Senora middle school.
Where this stench is, radical open borders activist Randy Parraz can’t be too far behind.
I sincerely hope the court stands firm on this very important issue. Crime is crime. There is no question about the gravity of this matter.
I just finished reading the entire 28 pages of the Court of Appeals opinion in this July 2008 case. First, I would like to thank SRAZ for finding and including the document. Then I would like to make an observation. The presiding judge on the panel was the Hon. Patricia A. Orozco. I’ve done a Google search and found some interesting information regarding the judge. She is Hispanic. She was the elected Yuma County Attorney. She is a Democrat. She was appointed by Janet Napolitano. Still Juan Barragan-Sierra was not given preferential treatment as his Superior Court case was upheld when it went to the Arizona Court of Appeals, and was treated fairly.
My sometimes faltering faith in the system is restored.
http://www.yumasun.com/news/orozco-11866-attorney-appointed.html