Kindgo
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http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,76544,00.html
SAN DIEGO — Nearly 70 foreign-born security guards and drivers working at or around the Super Bowl were arrested by immigration agents in a three-month operation designed to ensure the safety of fans, authorities said Friday.
As part of "Operation Game Day," the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service arrested 45 security guards and 24 cab drivers. Of those, 34 had prior criminal convictions.
The probe targeted workers in industries operating in and around Qualcomm Stadium who have access to restricted areas.
"In the aftermath of 9-11, our priority is to examine areas that pose the highest security threat and take appropriate action," said Adele J. Fasano, director of the INS' San Diego district. "We are fully committed to using all of our investigative resources to ensure the safety of our community."
INS agents reviewed 12,000 employment verification forms from 187 security guard companies as well as limousine and shuttle companies. Agents also checked the licenses of more than 3,500 cab drivers in San Diego and Imperial counties.
Those detained on immigration violations face possible deportation to their home countries. Six face criminal prosecution by the U.S. Attorney's office in San Diego.
Efran Alvarez Jacobo and Aaron Fernando Reyes Ortiz, both security guards, and Fernando Aguilar, a cab driver, have pleaded innocent in federal court to immigration violations. Eduardo Fuentes Perez also is being prosecuted, but court records did not indicate his profession.
Most of the security guards arrested are from Latin American countries, while many of the transportation workers are from 25 countries suspected of having terrorist cells, immigration officials said.
John Mansfield, the lawyer for a Nigerian-born British citizen who was picked up in the sweep, filed a lawsuit in federal court Wednesday, alleging that Anthony Ajayi's rights were violated when he was picked up Jan. 10 at the private security company where he had been working with a false social security number.
Ajayi, 25, who married a U.S. citizen nearly a year ago, was in the process of obtaining permanent residency and had a legal work permit that he planned to use once he switched jobs. His lawyer, who insists his client is not a security risk, is challenging the INS's plans to deport him without an immigration court hearing.
"The Super Bowl sweep is a great idea in its general concept. The problem is the way the INS goes about it. They pretty much pick up any person who's overstayed their visa whether or not they're a security risk," said Mansfield, a Temecula-based immigration rights attorney.
"I'm all for combatting terrorism but I also think the moment we start infringing on individual rights, that's the moment we need to be concerned," he said.
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Lets see -- overstayed his visa (ie, in the country illegally) and on top of that, he was committing another crime in that he was using a fake social security number yet we are infringing on HIS rights?
Thanks to Christine at RR ![[thumbsup]](graemlins/thumbsup2.gif)
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God bless,
Kindgo
Inside the will of God there is no failure. Outside the will of God there is no success.
Posts: 4320 | From: Sunny Florida | Registered: Jun 2002
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