Women robbed, sexually assaulted by border bandits [South Texas]

The Monitor ^ | May 11,2006 | Cari Hammerstrom

[SwinneySwitch]

GRANJENO — Near the river’s bend that Border Patrol agents refer to as "El Rincon del Diablo" — or the Devil’s Corner — border bandits armed with machetes and handguns robbed and sexually assaulted El Salvadoran immigrants about midnight Wednesday.

Just after crossing the Rio Grande, bandits ambushed the group in wooded area. All 25 men and women were forced to disrobe and lay face-down in the dirt near a ravine by the river bank. Then, at least three women were sexually assaulted at gunpoint. There are allegations that most of the women were inappropriately touched.

Border Patrol agents found the group walking along a dirt road toward Granjeno after the incident occurred.

The three to four bandits, who the U.S. Border Patrol and Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño said may be part of a human smuggling ring, are possibly connected to the rape of a woman in her 20s during broad daylight Saturday in the same area.

Treviño describes the prime suspect in the two incidents as a Hispanic male, 6 feet tall and 200 pounds with a very distinctive charro tattoo on his chest. A Charro is a traditional Mexican folk icon.

The sheriff’s department is the lead investigative agency in the case; however both agencies are working closely together.

"Local police officers are not Border Patrol agents," said Treviño, reiterating a strong belief of his. Deputies will not arrest someone for entering the country illegally, which is a violation of federal law. However, the department will make sure that those who committed these despicable acts are brought to justice, he said.

The victims were in Border Patrol custody in McAllen on Wednesday, as agents and deputies interviewed them. Several victims were taken back to where they were ambushed to accurately make their report.

Law enforcement officials infer that many sexual assaults like these go unreported.

Only three women wanted to press charges for sexual assault, Treviño said, while two other women agreed to file charges against the bandits for robbery. The immigrants’ unwillingness to file charges may stem from fear.

Treviño said he will work with consular officials so that the victims can testify against the men who assaulted them. It will take a lot of paperwork and removing a lot of bureaucratic red tape, but "I want to renew local agreements," he said.

Illegally coming to the United States involves several risks, Treviño said, stressing immigrants should enter this country through legal means.

One risk is to get caught by the Border Patrol, he said, but more and more, immigrants are greatly suffering at the hands of human traffickers.

___

Cari Hammerstrom covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4424.

[SwinneySwitch]

¡Los coyotes son de satan!

Troops and a fence!

[mirkwood]

[kinoxi]

knife and a torch

[rocksblues]

"Local police officers are not Border Patrol agents," said Treviño, reiterating a strong belief of his. Deputies will not arrest someone for entering the country illegally, which is a violation of federal law. However, the department will make sure that those who committed these despicable acts are brought to justice, he said.

Give me a break. This is not an American Sheriff.

[Centurion2000]

"Local police officers are not Border Patrol agents," said Treviño, reiterating a strong belief of his. Deputies will not arrest someone for entering the country illegally, which is a violation of federal law

Someone should tell El Pendejo that in this country the law is supposed to be enforced equally. Selective enforcement is for judges.

[kinoxi]

last time i pushed it, i got arrested. guess i need to become a mexican citizen, criminal immunity? /s

[Lurker]

This sheriff needs to lose the next election in a landslide.

L

[SwinneySwitch]

¡Coyote silbido de bala!

[MAexile]

Only committing the sexual assaults that Americans aren't willing to commit

[SwinneySwitch]

¿Por qué?

[TigersEye]

Any sort of amnesty will only encourage and enable more of this.

[TexasTransplant]

Fence, Enforce the Law, Support Minute Men, Force Mexican Consulates to receive pay for and deport Illegals, Amend the 14th Amendment, Remove Federal, State and Local assistance to Illegals (remove incentive), Incarcerate Criminals and repeat offenders, No more catch and release, Streamline the INS (It took 9 years and cost us thousands of dollars for my Wife to be Naturalized, about 8 1/2 years too long), Education (as in History) should accompany any News story and it may sound unimportant but don't let the Media change the terminology, they are "Illegal" not "undocumented".
I am starting to come around to holding Employers accountable for checking for Citizenship, but ONLY if they cannot be sued for Discrimination or Profiling etc etc etc.

TT

[DTogo]

You're either being highly sarcastic or a TROLL.

[SwinneySwitch]

Goodbye, Vanessa!

[trubluolyguy]

knife and a torch

---

M4A1 and a full clip.

[kinoxi]

that would expedite things quite a bit...

[trubluolyguy]

Any sort of amnesty will only encourage and enable more of this.

---

Unfortunately, they that defend these monsters "rights" to break into our country, would disagree.