CBP Detroit finds 9 illegals hidden in trailer

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Detroit
Immigrants found hiding in truck from Canada

January 17, 2006

Email this Print this BY DAVID ASHENFELTER

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Border agents arrested a Canadian truck driver Monday after finding nine illegal immigrants from China hiding in the back of his tractor-trailer.

"It was another one of those cases where the officer got suspicious while asking the driver routine questions," Ronald Smith, spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said Monday. "Agents became suspicious because the driver was acting nervous."

The illegal immigrants -- six women and three men -- were in excellent physical condition.

The driver, 39, of Windsor was delivering a load of steel to Gary, Ind., and crossed into Detroit at the Ambassador Bridge. Agents discovered the illegal immigrants hiding in the trailer after the driver was told to open the doors. Border officials did not name the driver.

The driver was detained pending federal criminal charges.

The illegal immigrants were detained, pending debriefing as potential witnesses and deportation to Canada.

The case is being investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"This is one more example of our officers using their training and experience to spot something wrong and to take the appropriate action to stop it at the border," said Robert Perez, port director for the Port of Detroit for Customs and Border Protection.

Contact DAVID ASHENFELTER at 313-223-4490 or ashenf@freepress.com.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...0400/1001/NEWS

[chewy]

WOW, they're ACTUALLY going to try to charge this guy??? What happen to the good ol days (last month) where we just turned them back to Canada with a stern talking to? I remember about a year or so ago we had a driver with six illegals hidden in the trailer and we turned them all around and made them go back... that was normal practice. Why bother prosecuting crime or banning illegals from entry or anything, we just throw them into the car and drive them back!

[RO56]

Why bother prosecuting crime or banning illegals from entry or anything, we just throw them into the car and drive them back!

Why don't you just throw them into the river and let them swim back? :D

[chewy]

Oh, if only...

[sparty]

Let's make sure we get the story right here. It's not ICE who is prosecuting this guy - they said the AUSA would never take the case and then went off to enjoy the rest of their holiday. It was a CBP Enforcement Officer who called the AUSA and was/is responsible for arresting the guy and taking him to court.

[FSCF3801]

Let's make sure we get the story right here. It's not ICE who is prosecuting this guy - they said the AUSA would never take the case and then went off to enjoy the rest of their holiday. It was a CBP Enforcement Officer who called the AUSA and was/is responsible for arresting the guy and taking him to court.

It's unfortunate you guys don't get the credit you deserve. :(

[chewy]

It's unfortunate you guys don't get the credit you deserve. :(

Oh come on... they give themselves a pat on the back all the time...


Besides to have a title that includes "Enforcement" in it within CBP is like saying **** tastes good!

[sparty]

Besides to have a title that includes "Enforcement" in it within CBP is like saying **** tastes good!

You're right - CBP and enforcment is kind of like military intelligence. I don't remember the last time they let me do any real enforcement work.

[JBT]

Yeah, military intelligence and border protection enforcement, two commonly stated phrases with are total and complete oxymorons. Oh wait, I am flashing back, sorry.

I am glad to see someone is doing something at the border. Hasn't been the same since I left. HA just kidding. I couldn't hold back gang, really couldn't. Have fun with the catch and release program.

[BP348]

I don't know about the northern border but here in the south we get this type of stuff quite offten. It has cooled way down since the incident in Victoria, TX. Yes, that went through my checkpoint and yes I was working that night. Good thing the guy working the road was one of our better guys. If not I'm sure they would have tried to through the book at him.

Yes, every once in a while I get to do some enforcement. too bad I have to rely on ICE or DEA to take my cases.

JBT I hate to say it but we've had some good stuff for ATF also but couldn't get them to drive the 80 miles to the checkpoint on a saturday night. I had one case with 246 pounds of MJ on a saturday afternoon. DEA agent on call declined the case (mandatory for them to come is 250 pounds) had to turn it over to the county.

Man I wish I was an 1811 with weekends and holidays off:D oh yea,I forgot, no midnights either!!! :eek:

[JBT]

Yeah, I heard about the mandatory min on marijuana, back when I was still working the border. I always thought it was funny, on the northern border someone finds a joint it was the bust of the century, while on la frontera, you might as well have a semi-trailer full. Gotta love the fed system.

Yeah, I don't miss working holidays, weekends and midnights. Let me guess, you the old seize and detain line from ATF. Seize the gun and lock up the dirtbag on state charges until Monday. I think they teach us that in the FLETC Criminal Investigator School. :D