According to the Front page Article in the Houston Chronicle
Can you spot the legitimate identification card State Trooper Todd Box is holding? The fake cards, which misidentify the Texas Department of Public Safety, are on the top and bottom.
BRETT COOMER: CHRONICLE
May 6, 2008, 12:35AM
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
Fake documents swamp Houston
Rise in demand is putting pressure on authorities
By JAMES PINKERTON
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Illegal immigrants fearful of being caught in stepped-up workplace raids are fueling a growing market in Houston for phony immigration and work documents.
The result, experts say, is a glut of false, altered and counterfeit documents that are easily obtained at Houston-area flea markets, businesses and clandestine printing shops set up in homes and apartments. The bogus documents include counterfeit Texas driver's licenses, fake Social Security and "green cards," and even worthless international driver's licenses sold here and in other states.
"You could put all of HPD full time on this thing, and I don't think we could put a dent in it," said Lt. Robert Sells, with the Texas Department of Public Safety's driver's license fraud unit.
The demand has been so strong that law enforcement officers in Texas have been bribed in recent years to sell the valuable documents, and several dozen have been caught.
An ex-federal prosecutor said heightened enforcement has not only boosted demand for counterfeit documents, but increased the price and quality of the fakes.
"You're seeing stepped-up law enforcement of the worksite, and that leads to more identity theft and false document prosecution," said Kevin Lachus, a former Immigration and Customs Enforcement attorney now with the Tindall & Foster immigration firm in Houston. "That results in more training for human resource officials, which makes them more expert in spotting documents, and results in even more sophisticated counterfeit identity documents."
On Houston streets, a top-quality counterfeit green card proving legal residency commands $500, federal agents say. Even shabby green cards bring $15 to $100 while a good-quality package — a driver's license, green card and Social Security card — can cost $350.
Immigrants sometimes resort to buying real documents from corrupt officials at steep prices.
The most significant recent case involved five immigrants from India and the Caribbean who were fooled by immigration agents posing as crooked law officers. Three were videotaped in a Houston government office last summer as they handed over $15,000 apiece for green cards, according to court records.
Increase in prosecutions
In the Southern federal district, which runs from the South Texas border to Houston, prosecutions for using fraudulent immigration documents have doubled from 10 cases in 2005 to 21 in 2007, while false identification cases — such as with Social Security cards — have tripled from 14 to 43 during the same time. The number of cases related to immigration and work document fraud filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office has spiked nationally as well in the past three years.
"I am seeing an increase in individuals trying to purchase immigration documents," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Englade in Beaumont. "Obviously, they want (legal) status here so they don't get picked up by immigration officials."
The underground market has snared 24 state employees at DPS driver's license offices caught taking bribes to sell authentic documents to those who don't qualify.
"Houston poses a large portion of our investigations in that regard," said unit director Major Rhonda Fleming, referring to corrupt DPS employees. "We do seem to have a lot of internal crime in Houston. I don't know what the deal is. Maybe it's because it's such a big city."
Of the 24 fraud cases against DPS personnel in the state since 2003, seven were from Houston. Since the fraud unit began in May 2004, they have investigated 1,670 cases and made 593 arrests, according to agency records.
"A lot of what we see ... are illegal aliens who are here in the state, and they need to get a driver's license for employment and to drive," Fleming said.
Many of the document fraud cases are also investigated by ICE agents.
"Document fraud is major problem here in Houston, and we at ICE are addressing that as resources and other priorities allow," said Robert Rutt, agent in charge of the Houston ICE office.
Rutt said two years ago ICE officials formed document fraud task forces in 11 major cities and have investigated 1,198 cases. Though Houston doesn't have a formal task force, Rutt said ICE, the U.S. Justice Department and local law enforcement cooperate informally on investigations.
"Immigration benefits are a very valued commodity," Rutt said. "With the advent of technology such as digital printing, desktop computers and software, it gives an opportunity for people who want to violate our immigration laws to exploit those who are desperate to obtain immigration benefits or status."
Recent cases
The increasing value of immigration documents in Houston was demonstrated in several recent cases.
Last summer, Ki Sun Park, 53, and Man Hui Cho, 55, both of South Korea, were arrested and accused of paying an ICE agent $10,000 for two green cards for workers. They owned two Houston sexually oriented businesses. Park and Cho pleaded not guilty and await trial.
In March, five immigrants were sentenced to time served in federal detention after admitting buying green cards from ICE agents posing as a corrupt officials. The ringleader and two other immigrants went to a north Houston ICE office to pay agents up to $15,000 in cash, as hidden cameras recorded the exchange.
The ringleader, Steavan Boxie of Trinidad and Tobago, was deported in March after a federal judge sentenced him to the seven months he served in federal detention.
Too long a wait for some
Michael Herman, who represented Boxie, said his client and the four other immigrants entered the country on work visas and tried to stay after their visas expired.
"They all came from impoverished backgrounds, and some had been victims of violence in their country," said Herman, with the federal public defenders office. "They came to the United States to work ... to try and build a better life, and they went out and tried to buy documents."
Gordon Quan, partner in a Houston immigration practice, said immigrants have few options due to long waits to obtain legal status.
"Because the system takes so long, you see more people breaking the law," Quan said. "It's not that they want to, it's because there are very few avenues."
And even when visas are obtained legally, fraud can be involved.
Houston federal prosecutors last month charged two local men and four others with securing fraudulent H-2B work visas for 80 unskilled workers recruited in India. The foreign workers, who paid between $20,000 to $80,000 each for the visas, arrived in Houston but were not required to work for the construction company that applied for their visas.
Instead, the Indian workers simply scattered across the country.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
Liberty or Death: The Humanitarian Crisis in the Americas
In this edition:
Can Rich Latinos make a difference? Houston Latino Entrepreneur Chamber of Commerce
The Disenfranchised among the disenfranchised: Immigration and Politics in America
Housing Injustice-By Guillermo Martinez
How to stop a Genocide: Can this model be used for Human trafficking/Immigration Reform-Go to Presentation
Legal Slavery: Migrant Worker Visa Victims By David Gonzalez
IMMIGRANT RIGHTS CONFERENCE-do research
Interview with David Flores, the son of migrant workers who leads a progressive association of blue collar and migrant workers, joined the organization. as he supports whole heartedly our desire to help immigrants who have suffered some sort of exploitation.
Book and documentary review David Batstone and filmmaker Robert Macarelli, from the “Not for Sale Campaign.”
Visit their website at http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/nfs_itinerary.pdf, for more information.
Can Rich Latinos make a difference? Houston Latino Entrepreneur Chamber of Commerce
The Disenfranchised among the disenfranchised: Immigration and Politics in America
Housing Injustice-By Guillermo Martinez
How to stop a Genocide: Can this model be used for Human trafficking/Immigration Reform-Go to Presentation
Legal Slavery: Migrant Worker Visa Victims By David Gonzalez
IMMIGRANT RIGHTS CONFERENCE-do research
Interview with David Flores, the son of migrant workers who leads a progressive association of blue collar and migrant workers, joined the organization. as he supports whole heartedly our desire to help immigrants who have suffered some sort of exploitation.
Xenophobia or Security?
In the last edition of Texas Monthly there was an article about the increasing number of Hispanics in Texas. There have also been biased reports about how half of the children in Houston schools are Hispanic. Some people are alarmed about this, alluding to the misconception that all Hispanics are undocumented or delinquent.
Book and documentary review David Batstone and filmmaker Robert Macarelli, from the “Not for Sale Campaign.”
Visit their website at http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/nfs_itinerary.pdf, for more information.
Monday, February 18, 2008
The Andres Gomez Foundation & AMEW
Issue #1
Dear Advocates for Social Justice:
Word of Victory founden by Community organizers and ministers Roxana and Luis Gomez is based on the work of the late Andres Gomez, who was awarded the title National Hero by the Columbian government, as he died in a plane crash while transporting a child to a hospital in his home country. This collaboration between AMEW founder David Daniel Gonzalez will collaborate with the Gomez family to make this project a reality and help support various humanitarian organizations through this non-profit endeavor have been developing a humanitarian magazine for several months.. There is much work to be done here in Houston, the number one place for slave trade in the country and sixth in the world. In the past 3 months since AMEW was formed, many developments have taken place, which include meeting with immigration attorneys and social workers who are interested in supporting our efforts, as well as gaining support from an immigrant rights activist and regional director of migrant workers association. This month before the holiday break we will have our first social service committee meeting and will proceed into the New Year with an exciting outreach project. The following update will provide details about these opportunities to reach our goals of assisting the vulnerable in our community.
Staff
Jodie K. Bielenberg-Editor
David Daniel Gonzalez-Reporter
Tel: 713-515-4955
Myspace.com/dgonzl4 Email: daviddanielgonzalez@hotmail.com
Our vision is to support marginalized communities such as immigrants, refugees, victims of abuse and human trafficking through civil means and diplomacy, in collaboration with professionals in the fields of clinical therapy, spiritual counseling, legal and social services. Through this holistic approach, we hope to ensure that victims of abuse, exploitation, and neglect are being effectively served and create awareness in the community about their plight. In a compassionate and dignified manner, this project focuses on assessing the needs of populations that have suffered abuse, advocate for the provision of effective services, and empower them to re-integrate into society.
Facts & Statistics :
· The Mexican government estimates that in 2005 20,000 children were enslaved for prostitution and sex tourism (Department of State findings). An investigation by Casa Alianza noted that dozens of children and adolescents from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua were taken by human traffickers to Mexico, who under false pretenses, abandoned them, sold them to brothels, or victimized them in other ways (ECLAC 53). According to Alfredo Missair, out of all people trafficked to this country children are the most vulnerable, as 20% out of all immigrants are children. These figures do not include the numbers of children who migrate alone or are captured and forcibly migrate, such as the kidnapped, enslaved, or those who are sold or illegally adopted (ECLAC 33).
· According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “while the immigration debate to date has focused on the economic, legal, and social/cultural aspects of the issue ultimately a humanitarian, and moral, issue." At the same time, they feel that by criminalizing all immigrants and authorizing local law enforcement to enforce immigration law, due process protections are removed. They are concerned that these developments will lead to "mandatory detention which would have repercussions to vulnerable groups such as trafficking victims". Is this a quote? It doesn’t sound right….and where is the citation?
A MORE EXCELLENT WAY
Social Justice – Represent and organize populations affected by abuse.
Therapeutic Support – Ensure that clinical and social services are provided to victims in need within the community.
Civic Aid – Advocate for the civil liberties and human rights of these populations, through compassion and restoration of dignity.
Referral Services – Connect victims with food, shelter, and counseling services provided by community organizations with common goals. Create collaborations to find avenues to better identify and service victims.
Community Outreach – Educate individuals on the social and economic issues that result in the victimization and exploitation of marginalized communities. Educate victims on their rights and liberties, as well as the potential for them to lead successful and meaningful lives.
Board of Advisors
Lillie Zegovia – Educator and Community Activist
Carmen Navarro Nino AP – World Association of Psychoanalysts
America Gomez – “The Oaks Project”
Juan Marcos Gutierrez – Blogger at www.jewquest.blogspot.com
Elias Marzucka – El Camino del Eterno, Outreach Director
Steven Goff – Houston Rescue and Restore
About the founder: Born in Monterrey, Mexico, David Daniel Gonzalez is a graduate of the University of Houston with a B.A. in Communications/Media Production and a Certificate in Non-Profit Management from the Graduate School of Social Work. He recently studied anthropology and sociology, where he researched ancient slavery in the Roman Empire and modern day slavery and exploitation of displaced communities from Latin America. David is currently a Legal Assistant in the Litigation section of Tindall and Foster, the second largest immigration law firm in the country. There he assists attorneys with pro-bono cases such as filling T-Visa applications for victims of trafficking and Violence Against Women Act petitions. David is a former Case Manager for the YMCA International Services, were he provided social services to victims of human trafficking as a member of the city-wide “Coalition Against Human Trafficking”. He also assisted immigrants in their legal proceedings through the Office of Refugee Resettlement and organized low-income workers as they pursued fair wages and dignified treatment. He is a co-founder of Spanish News for the local Pacifica radio station KPFT, a leading organization in progressive radio communications in the country. He has worked for several years in cultural and social service organizations and has traveled to Israel, the Vatican, Italy and Greece while developing artistic projects.
Supporters
· David Flores –ALLIANCE
· Alejandro Armendariz – Catholic Charities
· Martha Dolittle – The Bard Project
Dear Advocates for Social Justice:
Word of Victory founden by Community organizers and ministers Roxana and Luis Gomez is based on the work of the late Andres Gomez, who was awarded the title National Hero by the Columbian government, as he died in a plane crash while transporting a child to a hospital in his home country. This collaboration between AMEW founder David Daniel Gonzalez will collaborate with the Gomez family to make this project a reality and help support various humanitarian organizations through this non-profit endeavor have been developing a humanitarian magazine for several months.. There is much work to be done here in Houston, the number one place for slave trade in the country and sixth in the world. In the past 3 months since AMEW was formed, many developments have taken place, which include meeting with immigration attorneys and social workers who are interested in supporting our efforts, as well as gaining support from an immigrant rights activist and regional director of migrant workers association. This month before the holiday break we will have our first social service committee meeting and will proceed into the New Year with an exciting outreach project. The following update will provide details about these opportunities to reach our goals of assisting the vulnerable in our community.
Staff
Jodie K. Bielenberg-Editor
David Daniel Gonzalez-Reporter
Tel: 713-515-4955
Myspace.com/dgonzl4 Email: daviddanielgonzalez@hotmail.com
Our vision is to support marginalized communities such as immigrants, refugees, victims of abuse and human trafficking through civil means and diplomacy, in collaboration with professionals in the fields of clinical therapy, spiritual counseling, legal and social services. Through this holistic approach, we hope to ensure that victims of abuse, exploitation, and neglect are being effectively served and create awareness in the community about their plight. In a compassionate and dignified manner, this project focuses on assessing the needs of populations that have suffered abuse, advocate for the provision of effective services, and empower them to re-integrate into society.
Facts & Statistics :
· The Mexican government estimates that in 2005 20,000 children were enslaved for prostitution and sex tourism (Department of State findings). An investigation by Casa Alianza noted that dozens of children and adolescents from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua were taken by human traffickers to Mexico, who under false pretenses, abandoned them, sold them to brothels, or victimized them in other ways (ECLAC 53). According to Alfredo Missair, out of all people trafficked to this country children are the most vulnerable, as 20% out of all immigrants are children. These figures do not include the numbers of children who migrate alone or are captured and forcibly migrate, such as the kidnapped, enslaved, or those who are sold or illegally adopted (ECLAC 33).
· According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “while the immigration debate to date has focused on the economic, legal, and social/cultural aspects of the issue ultimately a humanitarian, and moral, issue." At the same time, they feel that by criminalizing all immigrants and authorizing local law enforcement to enforce immigration law, due process protections are removed. They are concerned that these developments will lead to "mandatory detention which would have repercussions to vulnerable groups such as trafficking victims". Is this a quote? It doesn’t sound right….and where is the citation?
A MORE EXCELLENT WAY
Social Justice – Represent and organize populations affected by abuse.
Therapeutic Support – Ensure that clinical and social services are provided to victims in need within the community.
Civic Aid – Advocate for the civil liberties and human rights of these populations, through compassion and restoration of dignity.
Referral Services – Connect victims with food, shelter, and counseling services provided by community organizations with common goals. Create collaborations to find avenues to better identify and service victims.
Community Outreach – Educate individuals on the social and economic issues that result in the victimization and exploitation of marginalized communities. Educate victims on their rights and liberties, as well as the potential for them to lead successful and meaningful lives.
Board of Advisors
Lillie Zegovia – Educator and Community Activist
Carmen Navarro Nino AP – World Association of Psychoanalysts
America Gomez – “The Oaks Project”
Juan Marcos Gutierrez – Blogger at www.jewquest.blogspot.com
Elias Marzucka – El Camino del Eterno, Outreach Director
Steven Goff – Houston Rescue and Restore
About the founder: Born in Monterrey, Mexico, David Daniel Gonzalez is a graduate of the University of Houston with a B.A. in Communications/Media Production and a Certificate in Non-Profit Management from the Graduate School of Social Work. He recently studied anthropology and sociology, where he researched ancient slavery in the Roman Empire and modern day slavery and exploitation of displaced communities from Latin America. David is currently a Legal Assistant in the Litigation section of Tindall and Foster, the second largest immigration law firm in the country. There he assists attorneys with pro-bono cases such as filling T-Visa applications for victims of trafficking and Violence Against Women Act petitions. David is a former Case Manager for the YMCA International Services, were he provided social services to victims of human trafficking as a member of the city-wide “Coalition Against Human Trafficking”. He also assisted immigrants in their legal proceedings through the Office of Refugee Resettlement and organized low-income workers as they pursued fair wages and dignified treatment. He is a co-founder of Spanish News for the local Pacifica radio station KPFT, a leading organization in progressive radio communications in the country. He has worked for several years in cultural and social service organizations and has traveled to Israel, the Vatican, Italy and Greece while developing artistic projects.
Supporters
· David Flores –ALLIANCE
· Alejandro Armendariz – Catholic Charities
· Martha Dolittle – The Bard Project
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