Texas Town Lives in Fear From Mexican Drug Violence

Locals here say they've seen a recent increase in illegal immigrants simply walking across the border and disappearing into the town, which lies just four miles from El Porvenir, Mexico, and 50 miles southeast of Ciudad Juarez, where 2,300 people were killed last year alone.

"They just walk across the border, right up my street," said Irby, 69, who lives close to Fort Hancock High School. "There has been an influx of people coming over from Mexico."

Other residents , meanwhile, say they refuse to live in fear. But nearly all residents interviewed said they're paying closer attention to who comes in and out of town.

"I know it’s getting bad over there," said Frank Potts, 54. "I'm a little scared, but I’m not too worried."

Potts, who lives alone, said he’s been listening for gunshots at night emanating from the Mexican border. He said the current climate is the worst it’s been in his five years in town.

"We haven’t seen [violence] here, but it’s a matter of time that it's going to come over," said Denny Chavez, a foreman at a local farm. "There's a lot of activities that go on at night that we don't know about."

Another diner, Terry Rose, called for an increased border presence by the National Guard and said he was frustrated with the current immigration debate, particularly regarding calls for amnesty.

"With so many people moving in from Mexico, some of them are going to be bad people," Rose said. "So, the potential [for violence] is there."

Some residents said they didn't want to comment on the situation due to fears of reprisal.

"People don't want their names in the paper," one local woman said. "We're all scared."

Take a look at this last NAFBPO report.

Cambio de Michoacán (Morelia) 3-31-10

Four human heads found in Apatzingan

Apatzingan, Michoacán-The victims remain unidentified 10 hours after their heads were found at the foot of a statue of General Lazaro Cardenas. The heads were found in an ice chest with a message from narcotics traffickers. The heads were transported to the medical examiner’s office for examination. Security has been doubled in the area.

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Fugitives extradited from Michoacán to the United States

David Aranda Hernandez and Enrique Lopez Madrigal were sent to the United States.

Aranda had a warrant for murder issued by the Los Angeles County Superior Court for the shooting death of a rival gang member on the 2nd of August, 2008.

Enrique Lopez Madrigal had a warrant issued by the County Superior Court of Stanislaus, California, for murder and the transportation of a firearm issued on the 23rd of April, 2009.

The fugitives were turned over to U.S. Marshals by Federal Police at the International Airport in Mexico City.

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Correo (Guanajuato) 3-31-10

International Bridge blockaded in Reynosa (Tamaulipas)

Streets leading to the International Bridge (Pharr, Texas) were blocked in Northern Reynosa by unknown people from a criminal organization using buses and trucks for over two hours. Reynosa police notified Pharr police and both sides remained on alert for whatever might happen.

On Monday in Washington, D. C., Republican Senator John McCain asked the U.S. Government to deploy the National Guard to the border in response to narcotics violence. While traffic came to a halt, passengers and drivers sat fearful. According to various Mexican web sites, drivers were ordered by narcotics traffickers via radio to shut down the traffic to hinder the movement of police. This event is similar to one used by narcotics traffickers in Monterrey (Nuevo Leon), on March 19, to impede operations by the Mexican Military during which two university students died.

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El Diario de Juárez (Juárez) 3-31-10

The Army will continue patrolling the streets

“Although the current city administration is leaving office, the Mexican Army will continue assisting businesses and municipal agencies in the City of Juárez”, announced Mayor Jose Reyes-Ferriz at a midday press conference.

Even though there has not been a new agreement with Federal authorities to continue the deployment of the Mexican Army in Juárez, there will soon be a new contract. For a year the Army has done an excellent job reducing crimes such as bank robbery and auto theft.

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Minors threaten juvenile court judges

Chihuahua, Chihuahua-Juvenile gangsters are making death threats against judges. These minors are in the juvenile courts for murder, violent robbery and other serious crimes.

The Chief of the State Supreme Court confirmed that members of organized crime have threatened judges and there has been pressure put on judges presiding in current cases. “All of us in the judicial system are at risk”, said Chief Justice Rodolfo Acosta-Munoz.

Acosta-Munoz said that the recent threats and pressure come from all types of cases, not just juvenile cases. One judge was sent a funeral wreath, another had his home burned, and yet another was threatened with being kidnapped.

The State Governor, Jose Reyes Baeza Terrazas, said that all minors involved with serious crimes like murder, being involved with organized crime and violent robbery will be prosecuted with the same vigor as adult criminals. “Yes, they are young but they will stay in jail because they have committed serious crimes”, said the Governor.

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The Army picked him up, beat him and planted a firearm
(murder of our consulate employees)

Juárez – The family of Ricardo Valles de la Rosa, who was picked up as a participant in the murders of three U.S. Consulate employees, says that he was held incommunicado at home for two days and beaten before being taken to authorities.

The wife of Ricardo Valles, who didn’t want to be identified, said that he was deported from the United States more than two years ago. “I am sure that he was not a member of the Azteca gang”, she said. “He doesn’t look like a gangster, and has no gang tattoos”, she said while crying. The military broke into the home at about 2:00 or 3:00 Wednesday afternoon and took him without giving a reason, according to her. Also she said that there was no firearm in the house and that is why she thinks they planted the firearm that they supposedly found. “He couldn’t move, they kept beating him, they are lying”, she said during a recess declared by the presiding judge in the case.

“I am his wife and I was with him at the time this incident occurred and I am sure he wasn’t involved”, she said. Although he was incarcerated in the United States, she did not know the reason he had been jailed.

-end of report-

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