DHS, Guatemala bust major illegal immigrant smuggling cartel
<https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/kevin-mcaleenan/> KEVIN MCALEENAN <https://www.washingtontimes.com/multimedia/image/ap_guatemala_us_central_am erica_05981jpg/> Acting U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan, center, arrives to a security-related meeting with representatives from countries in Central Americas Northern Triangle in Guatemala City, Tuesday, May 28, 2019. In December the U.S. made an aid announcement aimed at providing ... <https://www.washingtontimes.com/multimedia/image/ap_guatemala_us_central_am erica_05981jpg/> more > By <https://www.washingtontimes.com/staff/stephen-dinan/> Stephen Dinan - The Washington Times - Wednesday, May 29, 2019 Homeland Security agents and Guatemalan authorities busted a significant smuggling organization Wednesday, arresting nine people who were involved in transporting thousands of illegal immigrants from across the globe through Latin America and into the U.S. The bust was the first fruit of a new cooperation agreement signed this week between the U.S. and Guatemala, authorizing the two countries to pool information and resources to go after the smugglers who are fueling the illegal immigrant surge. Authorities dubbed the operation the Merida organization, after Lidia Fausta Merida-Lopez, whom a Homeland Security official identified as the ringleader. The organization had assets of $10 million, and facilitated smuggling of people from Guatemala, elsewhere in Central America and South America, and even from terrorist-connected countries such as Somalia and Pakistan. Theyve moved thousands of people, the official said. Theyre diverse, theyre connected and linked to narcotics smuggling organizations, theyre truly a transnational criminal organization. Acting Homeland Security Secretary <https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/kevin-mcaleenan/> Kevin McAleenan was in Guatemala on Wednesday where he is engaged in meetings with Central American governments, looking to find ways to stop the surge of their people fleeing their countries and headed north. Earlier this week he inked the cooperation deal with Guatemala, which he said is a geographic chokepoint for migration from the south up through Mexico. If the U.S. can stiffen Guatemalas enforcement, it can cut into the overall flows. Youve got to come through Guatemala, so if we can create a border security situation thats more robust on the Guatemalan border with Honduras, the Guatemalan border with El Salvador thats going to disrupt this cycle, <https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/kevin-mcaleenan/> Mr. McAleenan said. If successful, that could give the U.S. other options besides relying on Mexico, which U.S. officials say has been an iffy partner, swinging from tough talk to lax enforcement. The agreement he reached with Guatemala commits the U.S. to helping provide better training, information sharing and support as authorities there try to take down some of the smuggling operations that are siphoning its people away. The agreement does not call for any additional financial assistance for Guatemala, the Homeland Security official said. He said Homeland Security Investigations agents, who are part of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), began looking into the Merida organization in January, and found it was moving special interest aliens, or people from countries outside the ones that usually make up illegal migration to the U.S. The organization would charge up to $3,500 to smuggle a child into the U.S. and up to $12,500 for adults, depending on where in the U.S. the wanted to reach, and the mode of transportation it took to get them there. Latin American press accounts said nine of the Merida organizations 10 leaders were arrested in Wednesdays operation. Some migrants being held by the organization were also arrested. Both U.S. and Guatemalan authorities said the organization was set up like a franchise operation, with smugglers able to control different pieces of the methods and routes, and the organizers chiefly facilitating the passage among those operators. They used word of mouth, their reputation for getting people successfully into the U.S., and sometimes social media to advertise their services. The nine arrested Wednesday will be prosecuted in Guatemala. <https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/kevin-mcaleenan/> Mr. McAleenan said taking out smuggling organizations will cut into the flow of people headed north. Without those organizations migrants cant move out of the country, he said The operation comes as the border crisis remains a heated debate in Washington. Congress left town last week without a deal on the $4.5 billion emergency spending request President Trump made to provide better care for the record numbers of illegal immigrant children and families streaming into the U.S. each month. Most of that money is designated for Health and Human Services, which under a law passed by Congress is required to care for unaccompanied alien children (UAC) who arrive at the border. But some of the money is designated for Homeland Security, and would be used to feed and care for the families and children, and to replenish ICEs detention budget. <https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/kevin-mcaleenan/> Mr. McAleenan said he was extremely concerned that Congress hasnt approved the money. The failure to act on that request is frankly unconscionable, and putting children at risk, he said. As for ICE, he said it will face very stark choices of either releasing more new border crossers, releasing criminals caught in the countrys interior, or slashing money in other accounts to fund ICEs detention beds. I dont like any of those choices. I prefer that Congress act on the request, the acting secretary said. Copyright © 2019 The Washington Times, LLC EM -> { Trump for 2020 } On the 49th Parallel Thé Mulindwas Communication Group "With Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja and Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda is in anarchy" Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi "Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja na Dk. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda ni katika machafuko"
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