SANTA CRUZ -- Police have arrested 42 people for narcotic, gang and other offenses and seized guns, drugs and cash during a 5-month-old partnership with federal drug and immigration officials, officers announced Wednesday.
In a packed roll call room at the Santa Cruz Police Department, investigators displayed 10 guns and numerous plastic bags filled with about $25,000 cash plus chunks of cocaine, methamphetamine, Ecstasy and marijuana seized in an effort dubbed Operation Southern Exposure. The name reflects the gangs the operation targets.
Santa Cruz police entered a partnership with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Drug Enforcement Agency in May, after a spike in violence that included the killings of two Santa Cruz teens who crossed the path of suspected gang members.
"We are completely thrilled with the results to date," DEA agent Amie Clarke said. "There have been some significant arrests."
Of the 42 people arrested, nine were detained by immigration officials, six were Mara Salvatrucha gang members and three were Sureño gang members, said Joe Vincent, a special agent in a San Jose ICE office serving four counties.
Vincent said the operation is focused on catching violent gang members, not specifically on deporting illegal immigrants.
"Unfortunately, there is an element of MS 13 in Santa Cruz," he said.
Authorities say Mara Salvatrucha is a violent gang that originated with Salvadoran immigrants in the Los Angeles area.
Santa Cruz gang officer Bill Azua said there are fewer Mara Salvatrucha gang members in town than there were in the 1990s, but couldn't give a specific number.
"They are still around, but due to law enforcement activity, they have learned to go deep underground," Azua said. "They are not like Sureños, who hang out on street corners. They are more covert."
Key local players in the partnership include the Santa Cruz police gang unit and the countywide Anti-Crime Team. The team, long headed by Department of Justice commander Rich Westphal, was formerly called the Narcotics Enforcement Team.
The success of the collaboration is evidenced by the seizures, interim Police Chief Kevin Vogel said.
Drugs seized include more than 10 ounces of methamphetamine, more than 1 kilo of cocaine, 7.5 grams of crack cocaine, more than 12 ounces of heroin, 2.3 pounds of marijuana and 3,850 Ecstasy pills.
He said the amount of guns recovered is troubling and that officers found one loaded handgun Tuesday night during an undercover drug operation in Beach Flats, he said.
"I'm concerned officers are coming in such close physical contact with these guys who are armed," Vogel said. "We're very pleased with the results, but it's clear there is still more work to be done."
There have been seven Santa Cruz police officers dedicated to the operation, Sgt. Jon Bush said.
"We hit it hard this summer due to the increase in violence," he said. "And there will be continuing pressure."
Vogel declined to say how long the operation would continue, but said the partnership with the federal agencies will not end anytime soon. Solving the city's recent homicides is a priority, he said.
On April 23, 19-year-old Carl Reimer of Santa Cruz was shot at Mission Garden Apartments, in what police say was likely a gang-related attack. The shooter was described as a thin Latino man, 5 feet 7 inches tall, wearing dark clothing.
On Oct. 16 of last year, alleged gang members stabbed 16-year-old Tyler Tenorio to death on the street near the intersection of Chestnut and Laurel streets. Three men have been arrested and charged with murder; two others have been identified but have not been found. Ivan Ramirez, 23, of Capitola and Paulo Luna, 23, are believed to have fled the area.
http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_16275322
20+ million ILLEGAL aliens are in the United States of America.
Right now in the United States of America, ILLEGAL aliens have more rights than you do!
9/26/2010 - HAZELTON, PA - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - IT'S ILLEGAL TO ARREST AN ILLEGAL ALIEN. IT'S ILLEGAL TO ARREST OR PUNISH THOSE WHO HIRE OR RENT TO ILLEGAL ALIENS!!!
"There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people." --Theodore Roosevelt
"This nation is in danger of becoming a Third World nightmare with all the corruption, disease, illiteracy, violence and balkanization known all over the world. We need a 10-year moratorium on all immigration to catch our collective breath and we need deportation of over 10 million illegal aliens in a slow and orderly fashion." --Ed Garrison
“The 1987 amnesty was a failure; rather than reducing illegal immigration, it led to an increase,” FAIR stated. “Any new amnesty measure will further weaken respect for our immigration laws. Therefore, all amnesty measures must be defeated.” --Frosty Wooldridge
President barry shits on the United States.
This is a picture of YOUR American president, (president barry soetoro, a.k.a barack obama) refusing to acknowledge the National Anthem of the United States of America. This picture clearly shows barry with his hands crossed across his vaginal area when the United States Anthem was playing.
barry has NO RESPECT for you, me, or America! Not only did he disrespect America, he just shit on the graves of every American Soldier that has died for this country.
6/15/2010 - PRESIDENT BARRY CAN'T EVEN KEEP A U.S. PARK OPEN!!! He gave the park to mexico & the illegal alien mexican drug cartel!!!
7/6/2010 - American President barry soetoro sues AMERICA!!!
9/11/2010 - YOUR president just gave mexico $1 billion dollars for deepwater oil drilling despite his own moratorium on U.S. deepwater drilling!? More proof that barry hates America!
Treason
–noun
1. the offense of acting to overthrow one's government or to harm or kill its sovereign. 2. A violation of allegiance to one's sovereign or to one's state. 3. the betrayal of a trust or confidence; breach of faith; treachery.
Traitor
–noun
1. a person who betrays another, a cause, or any trust. 2. a person who commits treason by betraying his or her country.
Pslam 109:8
May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership.
700 ILLEGAL ALIENS - 40 DAYS - ONE TRAIL
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400 ILLEGAL ALIENS - 35 DAYS - ONE TRAIL
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What's in their backpacks? Are any of them sick with a contagious disease?
United States Code, Title 8, Chapter 12, Subchapter II, Part VIII, §1325 - "Improper Entry by Alien," any citizen of any country other than the United States who: 1) Enters or attempts to enter the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers; or 2) Eludes examination or inspection by immigration officers; or 3) Attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact; has committed a federal crime.
Violations are punishable by criminal fines and imprisonment for up to six months. Repeat offenses can bring up to two years in prison. Additional civil fines may be imposed at the discretion of immigration judges, but civil fines do not negate the criminal sanctions or nature of the offense.
ILLEGAL
-ADJ
1. FORBIDDEN BY LAW; UNLAWFUL; ILLICIT 2. UNAUTHORIZED OR PROHIBITED BY A CODE OF OFFICIAL OR ACCEPTED RULES
-N
3. A PERSON WHO HAS ENTERED OR ATTEMPTED TO ENTER A COUNTRY ILLEGALLY
Illegal Alien
–noun
1. a foreigner who has entered or resides in a country unlawfully or without the country's authorization. 2. a foreigner who enters the U.S. without an entry or immigrant visa, esp. a person who crosses the border by avoiding inspection or who overstays the period of time allowed as a visitor, tourist, or businessperson.
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