March 19, 1999
Sau Lee a Chinese, 106 years old, was naturalized on Nov. 23, 1998, becoming the oldest known person to become a naturalized U.S. Citizen. The naturalization took place in New York's Chinatown.
In 1998 the INS reported that 171,154 criminal and non criminal alien removals were completed 115,143 were non criminal. 63,114 were for criminal reasons. 40,894 of the non criminal removals occurred at the Southwest land ports of entry. The majority occurred in San Diego.
INS removed on the average of 1,077 criminal aliens per week with nearly half being drug related. Mexicans were 78% of the criminal aliens removed and 81 percent of the criminal and non criminal alien total.
A Georgia garment company was convicted of smuggling aliens into the U.S. from Mexico. The president of the company, Fred Parrish of Atlantic Furnishing, was fined $84,000 for conspiring to transport and harbor illegal aliens. This is the first time that a U.S. company and its president were convicted of organized alien smuggling.
INS recruiters efforts have increased to sign up more Asians into the service. Teams recently went to Padhammacharts, a Buddhist temple in la Puenta, Ca. to recruit Thai individuals for the INS.
Better late then never. Agent Araceli Garcia, of the Imperial Beach station, was recently named "Border Patrol Agent of the Year" by the San Diego Elks Lodge No. 168. She was recognized for saving a child's life who was choking to death while eating at Coco's Restaurant.
(Information from the INS West newsletter and COMMUNIQUE from the U.S. Justice Department)
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