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Posts Tagged ‘Tucson’

Illegal aliens. Foreign scoflaws. The FedGov was incorporated in part so the individual States wouldn’t have to declare war on a foreign power and thereby draw other States into war. Works good. Real good.A team of plainclothes Border Patrol agents found 109 illegal entrants Tuesday in squalid living conditions in a drop house about 60 miles south of Tucson, authorities said Wednesday.
The illegal border crossers were arrested, the home was seized, and six illegal entrants will likely face prosecution for human smuggling in connection with the operation of the drop house, said Sean King a U.S. Border Patrol spokesman.
The case began when agents in Rio Rico — an area known for human smuggling — saw a vehicle with several passengers and later saw that same vehicle with no passengers, King said.
They questioned the driver and found out he was in the country illegally, and he led them to the drop house, King said. Border Patrol agents seized the vehicle.
King said living conditions in such drop houses — where smugglers hold illegal entrants until they can move them north — can be abhorrent. The entrants use buckets for toilets because the overloaded plumbing gets clogged. The homes aren’t cleaned as migrants move through them, and unsanitary conditions escalate, he said.
In this case, more than 100 illegal entrants were crammed into a three-bedroom home littered with soiled clothing and garbage, King said. Several women and children were preparing food in a kitchen littered with paper plates.
Each room in the house was filled with people except for the master bedroom, which appeared to be the smugglers’ living quarters. That room had two mattresses on the floor and closets filled with personal items, King said.
Otherwise, the house had no furniture, blankets or anything that would provide comfort.
“The smuggler doesn’t care” about conditions in the house, King said. “All he’s doing is keeping them there until he can move them north and get paid.”
Thirty-four of the illegal entrants were female and 75 were male. Twelve were under age 18.
The Border Patrol usually will find drop houses every other week, often with about 30 illegal entrants, but sometimes as many as 70, King said.
Smugglers usually limit the number of border crossers in each house to keep from attracting attention.
They hold the illegal entrants for short periods then move them to Tucson or Phoenix, King said. The smugglers keep them in the houses until their family members can afford to have them released.
“They’re basically being held for ransom,” he said.
Arizona has become a “transportation hub” for smugglers, said Lauren Mack, a spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Smugglers will often take the illegal border crossers to Phoenix because it’s farther from the border than Tucson and they can blend into the metropolitan area.
The smugglers will then make arrangements to move them to different parts of the country.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement works to find drop houses where illegal entrants are being held against their will, King said. Sometimes smugglers will demand more money from the entrants or abuse them once they’re in the United States, she said.
Recently, there has been a decrease in the number of such houses found in areas like Phoenix and Tucson, but that could be because migration patterns fluctuate, Mack said.
“What we’re trying to do is dismantle these organizations from the top level,” she said. To do that, investigators track the large sums of money illegal entrants pay.
Smugglers usually receive $2,000 to $3,000 per migrant to move a person from Mexico to the United States, Mack said.
The cost can increase, depending on the method of entry and whether a family wants to stay together.
One way Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials follow that money is by tracking wire transfers, a common way smugglers get paid.
To launder the money, sometimes smugglers will try to sneak cash into Mexico, deposit it at a bank or exchange house and bring it back into the United States, Mack said.
The agency works with banks and exchange houses on both sides of the border to find the smugglers, Mack said.
The smugglers “are very organized,” King said. “They have a way to get (illegal entrants) from Chiapas, Mexico, to Tennessee.”
In May, agents discovered 118 migrants at another house in Rio Rico. The Border Patrol said at the time that it was one of the largest drop-house discoveries in Arizona in recent years.
That same month, agents in Yuma found more than 150 illegal entrants in three separate drop houses within a week.
Busting the drop houses can be dangerous for Border Patrol agents because human smugglers are often involved with drugs and will violently protect their financial assets, King said.
Smugglers will guard the door to make sure no one leaves and keep an eye out for authority, King said. There was no evidence of drug smuggling in this situation, but taking more than 100 people involuntarily into custody can still be a dangerous process, King said.
The agents involved in this drop-house discovery were members of the Border Patrol’s Disrupt team.
The agents work in civilian clothes, conduct surveillance and rely on calls and information from the community to conduct their operations.

Golf, golf and more golf. Located in Ocotillo, one of The Valley of the Sun’s premier communities, you’ll be close to some of the best golf courses in the valley! This is a truly upscale home with everything you need to enjoy Phoenix’s legendary weather. 2 bedrooms (+office), 2 bath. The house is in a deluxe community and features vaulted ceilings, tile, wood floors, custom art, accents and extras. 2 car garage with extra storage. Walking distance to golf, lakes and parks.
Kitchen is fully equipped and all linens are furnished. Includes DVD, TV, deluxe stereo/theatre sound system, ceiling fans in all rooms, walk in closets and landscaping service. Relax on the ultra quiet Mexican tiled patio under the starry Arizona sky. This 3-bedroom home has 1 king, 1 queen, and an office that can be converted into a 3rd bedroom. All the comforts of a fine home await you, including a large soaking tub. Minutes to I-10, Loop 101 and Loop 202 and south to Tucson. Gila River Casino is just 15 mins.

Tucson Homes for Sale and Real Estate $285000 2 bedrooms, 2 baths 64581 E Sugar Ln Tucson, AZ 85739 MLS #: 20900073 More details on this listing: www.saddlebrookehomes.com For more information, contact: Dan Sieverding dansieverding@wbhsi.net (520) 909-9408 Mountain views await you from this ,move-in ready Fiesta great room floor plan!! Walls have been removed for a more open floor plan and windows have been added to take advantage of the views. Professionally landscaped with front, side and back patio areas. Den with custom built-ins. Custom closets, whirlpool and skylight in master bath. Ceiling fans and custom window treatments. New ceramic tile in entry and kitchen. Rainbow coated driveway and sidewalk. Let Long Realty show you this pleasant home at 64581 E Sugar Lane in Tucson. You’ll find 2 bedrooms and 2 baths in this home. This home features an open floor plant, den with custom built-ins, custom closets and skylight in master bath. A formal dining room invites elegant entertaining to the home. The neutral tone of the rooms will easily accommodate your decorating ideas. The focal point of the yard is the inviting patio. Get the grill ready. To arrange for your personal showing, contact Long Realty today. Property Type: Single Family Residence Subdivision: Saddlebrooke MLS Area:Saddlebrooke School District: Other High School: Other Middle School: Other Elementary School: Other County: Pinal

Tucson Homes for Sale and Real Estate Open House 02-28-2010 from: 1PM to: 4PM $699999 to $719999 4 bedrooms, 3 baths 6340 N Pinnacle Ridge Dr Tucson, AZ 85718 MLS #: 21005683 More details on this listing: tucson123.com For more information, contact: Susanne Grogan sgrogan@longrealty.com (520) 241-8099 Huge Price Reduction! Seller will entertain offers between $699999-$719999. Majestic views of Finger Rock can be seen from this highly upgraded contemporary situated on an oversized lot in Paloma Canyon! Features include granite cntrs, GE Prof appls, flagstone patio w/beehive fp in backyard,custom closets in master bd and surround sound in family room, high ceilings,oversized windows and open flrplan. Enjoy magnificent mountain views indoors and out! Let Long Realty show you this inviting home at 6340 N Pinnacle Ridge Drive in Tucson. You’ll find 4 bedrooms and 3 baths in this home. The warm and inviting fireplace adds a classic touch to this charming room. A wall of windows brings plenty of natural light into the charming room. The efficiency of the kitchen is enhanced by the practical and attractive island. Majestic views of Finger Rock can be seen from this upgraded home situated on an oversized lot in Paloma Canyon! Contact Long Realty to arrange for a personal showing. Property Type: Single Family Residence Subdivision: Pinnacle Ridge MLS Area:North School District: Catalina Foothills High School: Catalina Fthls Middle School: Orange Grove Elementary School: Sunrise Drive County: Pima

Tucson Homes for Sale and Real Estate $929000 3 bedrooms, 2 baths 5321 N Via Condesa Tucson, AZ 85718 MLS #: 20928253 More details on this listing: marydorais.longrealty.com For more information, contact: Mary Dorais mdorais@longrealty.com (520) 918-2479 Exquisitely remodeled 3Br/2BA w/study and bonus room(interior by Robinson and Shades) with spectacular boulder-strewn award-winning landscape design, featured in Tucson Home and Garden. Resort-like retreat on 1.1 ac with fabulous vws, natural rock stream fed pool and pond, and luxurious outdoor entertaining areas. Gourmet chef’s kitchen w/ top line cabinets andss appl, extraordinary central island. French doors, built-ins, custom closets, so much more! Let Long Realty show you this stunning home at 5321 N. Via Condesa in Tucson. Imagine relaxing in this delightful room with a warm and cheerful fire flickering in the fireplace. This room is well suited for quiet solitary evenings or active social occasions. The gourmet kitchen boasts gorgeous cabinetry, an extraordinary central island, and a pantry. Top-of-the-line appliances are included. This residence was designed for entertainment and carefree living. It’s hard to resist the charms of the sparkling outdoor pool. Contact Long Realty to see this 3 bedroom and 2 bath home. Property Type: Single Family Residence Subdivision: Catalina Foothills Est 7 MLS Area:North School District: Amphitheater High School: Amphitheater Middle School: Amphitheater Elementary School: Rio Vista County: Pima