Human smuggling operation investigated

I don’t know where Brian Ross gets his stuff, but the ABC Blotter has been on top of several big stories lately. Kuddos.

The FBI is investigating an alleged human smuggling operation based in Chaparral, N.M., that agents say is bringing “Iraqis and other Middle Eastern” individuals across the Rio Grande from Mexico.

An FBI intelligence report distributed by the Washington, D.C. Joint Terrorism Task Force, obtained by the Blotter on ABCNews.com, says the illegal ring has been bringing Iraqis across the border illegally for more than a year.

Border Patrol officials in the area said they were unaware of the specifics of the FBI’s report, and federal prosecutors in New Mexico told ABCNews.com they had no current cases involving the illegal smuggling of Iraqis.

The FBI report, issued last week, says the smuggling organization “used to smuggle Mexicans, but decided to smuggle Iraqi or other Middle Eastern individuals because it was more lucrative.” Each individual would be charged a fee of $20,000 to $25,000, according to the report. Read More–>>

All the more reason to get rid of Johhny Sutton, the US Atty who is more intent on jailing border agents and law enforcement personnel than he is in supporting effective border control policy. You may remember this from a few weeks ago…

In the last six months, agents along the Southwest border caught 15 people from Iran, 35 from Pakistan, 12 from Jordan, two from Syria and five from Lebanon. Conservatives have been deeply disappointed with the Administration’s half-hearted efforts to provide Border Security. We’ve also been more than just a little puzzled with the actions of US Attorney Johnny Sutton, whose over-zealous prosecution of Border Agents has led to the controversial imprisonment of Agents Compean and Ramos, and the prosecution of a Sheriff’s Deputy, while protecting dope dealers and illegal immigrants.

On a related matter, Rep. Duncan Hunter is renewing his call for Border Agents Compean and Ramos to receive a pardon. I agree 100%.

Hunter, a 2008 GOP presidential hopeful, said the prosecution of Ramos and Compean is a “great injustice,” adding that their case “called out for a pardon or commutation.”

Last October, U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Cardone in El Paso, Texas, sentenced Compean to 12 years in prison and Ramos to 11 years and one day — despite a plea by their attorney for a new trial after three jurors said they were coerced into voting guilty in the case.

The two agents were convicted of firing at and wounding a reportedly unarmed illegal immigrant near Fabens, Texas. The illegal was suspected of drug smuggling and was granted immunity by federal prosecutors in exchange for his testimony against the agents.

Update: I just watched Sutton on Hannity and Colmes. Sutton needs to go. If Bush wanted to rally his base, all he would have to do is fire Sutton and pardon the border agents. His stock would go up several points overnight.

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