Border a magnet for sexual offenders

El Paso Times ^ | Monday, September 2, 2002 | Diana Washington Valdez

[FITZ]

El Paso law-enforcement officials who are cracking down on sex offenders, particularly those who target children, have a strong argument for keeping out-of-town sex offenders from being dumped in the Sun City: the border.

The border makes it easy for parolees and probationers to commit crimes outside the view of U.S. officials who are charged with supervising them.

Although state and county law officers said parolees and probationers are not allowed to travel to Juárez, we know from arrests at the international bridges by the Immigration and Naturalization Service that they do.

Likewise, the border adds another challenge to communities because there is no such thing as a data base of registered sex offenders in Mexico. Pedophiles and other sex offenders -- ones with passports and visas -- can come to El Paso to seek victims and avoid prosecution by jumping the border.

Last year, the United Nations' UNICEF and Mexico's National System for Integral Family Development released a 135-page report alleging that sexual exploitation of children was rampant on the border.

Report had details

It identified places in Juárez where clandestine meetings for adults seeking children could be arranged. The report, "Boy and Girl Victims of Sexual Exploitation in Mexico," was based on a 10-month investigation that focused on Juárez, Tijuana, Guadalajara, Acapulco, Cancun and Tapachula, Chiapas.

The report provided enough details to warrant a binational task force to address the findings and recommendations. There's been no attempt by El Paso-Juárez leaders to take up the issue since the report was made public.

A disturbing aspect of the issue, according to U.S. and Mexican law enforcement, is that organized crime is heavily involved in child exploitation, which can include pornography, prostitution and sex tourism.

One of Mexico's most powerful politicians, who died within the past decade, was an alleged pedophile who occasionally visited this border region. He died of AIDS complications after having sex with infected children, according to Mexican officials. The UNICEF-DIF report said health officials are beginning to see young children who are sexually exploited develop AIDS.

Conversely, a U.S. drug intelligence agency once tracked a suspicious trip by U.S. passengers that included American politicians. To the agency's surprise, a couple of the U.S. politicians from border communities were observed in Mexico seeking out children for the purposes of sex.

It's obvious that U.S. and Mexican officials will have to work together to keep the border from becoming a magnet for sex offenders.

[FITZ]

All kinds of criminals like the open border we have with Mexico.

[Illbay]

Interestingly, however, this seems to be a huge problem for Mexico--although their politicians won't necessarily be apt to talk about it.

[FITZ]

Besides since the child victims in Mexico are usually from their poor class, the rich politicians don't care about the problem and are often part of the problem.

[Dark Wing]

a discussed ping

[ninenot]

What a country!!!

Hard to know if the buyers or the sellers are the worst offenders. Obviously, way too much time and money available out there for some people to handle.

[Illbay]

Exactly.