Campo Minuteman Quoted on Border Patrol Agent's Murder

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/apr/29/teen-receives-40-years-prison-murder-border-patrol/

"Britt Craig, a member of the Minuteman group that monitors the border, said it was "ludicrous" that Castro didn't know the identity of his co-conspirators.

"He knows who did it," Craig told reporters outside court."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hPSwshFPzVfadMmjIwIckSRrKxswD9FD137G2

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/29/AR2010042900740.html

Britt Craig, a civilian who monitors the border for illegal activity and calls the Border Patrol with anything suspicious, told reporters he spoke with Rosas about 15 minutes before the execution.

The agent said he was tracking four people seen walking along the Mexican side of the border fence, apparently preparing to enter the United States illegally.

"He said, 'Yeah, we're going to catch those guys. I'll come back and tell you about it,'" Craig said

Christian Daniel Castro Alvarez sentenced to 40 years for murder of Border Patrol Agent

Two to three hundred Border Patrol Agents filled the courtroom and lined the hallways of the Dozens of Federal Agents were present. With his family seated behind him, Christian Daniel Castro Alvarez appeared downcast as he sat in an orange jump suit, resting his chin in his hand while his attorney spoke for him.

He confessed that he, with two others suspects he lured Rosas by leaving footprints along the road. He then attempted to rob Border Agent Rosas, who resisted and was shot. Castro, maintains the other two suspects were the shooters, but this as not been confirmed. The other two suspects remain at large, in Mexico. Some details were unclear. The judge indicated the case remains under investigation and that additional information remains "under seal." Castro was reportedly injured in the attack and his blood was found at the scene and his identity confirmed by DNA. His age- 16- at the time of the murder was noted as was his poverty in Mexico. Castro admitted prior involvement in the Human Trafficking trade, with no prior criminal convictions.

A statement was read from Richard Barlow, acting chief patrol agent for the San Diego sector noting the devastating impact the murder had on the Border Patrol Agency, stating that it "tested the very fabric of our sacred oath."

Robert Rosas' two sisters, Arlene and Sylvia, broke down as the spoke of their love for their brother and their overwhelming loss. They spoke of Robert's kindness. One noted that their father had been killed in a car accident when Robert was two years old and he felt the loss as he was growing up, vowing to be the kind of father to his children that he dreamed of having when he was growing up. They spoke of Robert's love for his country and of the Border Patrol and the "lack of respect" afforded the Border Patrol.

Rosa's widow, Rosalie, spoke in a clear, calm voice, looking directly at the judge and at the Castro, asking for the maximum sentence, on behalf of herself, her children and "the Citizens of the United States of America. She stated she was sustained by her faith in God and her belief that justice would be served. She noted the loss to her and her children who point to every American flag they see and say "Papa's Flag." She expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support she received. noting her husband would be especially proud of the support of the Border Patrol. She told the judge she has but one request, and that is for justice, not only for Castro, but for all the involved parties. Applause broke out when she was finished.

The judge reviewed the sentencing process. The prosecution was asking for 40 years ; the defense for 30 years. The prosecution, for reasons under seal, had agreed to not ask for the mandatory life sentence and therefore the sentencing guidelines were for "30 years to life." The judge referred to the killing as an "execution" and sentenced Castro to the 40 years requested by the prospection.

After the sentencing, Shawn Moran Vice President South at National Border Patrol Council spoke to press. He expressed the opinion that the sentence should have been even stiffer and would be of "no deterrent" to the Drug Cartels who "did not care." He called for the deployment of Combat Troops on the Mexican Border. He noted the lack of political will to secure the border and that the Border Patrol needs to be "unhandcuffed" to fight the Drug Cartels who have declared war on them. He noted the impact of the case of the Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean on the Agent's ability to do their job.

One of the sketch artist was the cousin of Arizona Rancher Rob Krentz who was killed earlier his month one his property, by a suspected illegal alien.



Shawn Moran:



Campo Minuteman Kingfish


Cousin of Arizona Rancher Rob Krentz

Person of Interest Sought

Media reports say he is a a person of interest in burglaries near the border in AZ.

Litter Pick up and Fence Repair Update

Gadget Dan reports we have removed another 1595 pounds of litter from Public Lands, as of April 17. 2010 and a total of more than 47,600 pounds since starting the litter removal program. Kingfish and Dan have been making repairs to damaged range fencing due South of Border Patrol Agent Robert Rosa's Memorial Cross. So far, they have repaired about 200 yards of damaged range fencing. They have about 100 yards of additional fencing to monitor and repair to complete the project.

Border agents shoot man driving stolen SUV

By Keith Darcé, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/apr/18/border-agents-shoot-man-driving-stolen-suv/

Mike Lee, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

Sunday, April 18, 2010 at 12:04 a.m.

SAN YSIDRO — Federal officers shot and injured a man Saturday morning after he drove through the San Ysidro border crossing in a stolen SUV, authorities said.

The man was taken by ambulance to UCSD Medical Center, a San Diego Fire-Rescue Department dispatcher said.

San Diego police said Saturday night that the man’s injuries were not considered life-threatening. He had not been identified and was under guard at the trauma center. A spokesman for the Mexican Consulate in San Diego said his office was told by U.S. officials that the man is not a Mexican citizen.

The incident started just before 9 a.m. when a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent asked the driver of a Chevy Tahoe for his identification and the man said he did not have it with him, San Diego police said.

The agent told the driver to pull his vehicle into an area for secondary inspection. Instead, the man sped toward exit lanes on the west side of the port of entry, said police Lt. Kevin Rooney.

Rooney said that as the man drove in a lane enclosed by cement barriers, he rammed an occupied vehicle in front of him in an attempt to make it to the freeway.

Agents reached the driver’s door and tried to stop him. But the man put the SUV in reverse and drove south at about 30 mph, police said. Two agents shot at the driver to prevent him from hitting more cars, Rooney said. He said the driver was struck by one round and crashed into a barricade.

Names of the agents were not released. One has been with the agency for three years and the other for seven, police said.

The Tahoe was reported stolen March 1 in Colorado Springs, Colo. A California plate on the SUV belongs to another vehicle, Rooney said.

The port of entry remained open, but several lanes were closed for the investigation, snarling traffic in the heavily traveled border region.

Staff writer Sandra Dibble contributed to this report.

Nine Illegal Border Crossers Captured This Morning

Nine Illegal Border Crossers Captured This Morning after being called in by Campo Minuteman Kingfish. The Crossers were first noticed after an alert by Kingfish's Dog, Buddy.