DHS-ICE: A case of pre-selection and more misuse of federal funds

DHS-ICE: A case of pre-selection and more misuse of federal funds

This report is about misusing of federal fund spending and prohibited federal personnel practices, to-wit: pre-selection by ICE.

Summary

This story will show how millions of dollars of U.S. tax payers’ monies are being wasted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in their war against terrorism and “dangerous people” (illegal aliens). I will demonstrate how DHS and ICE are duplicating other federal law enforcement agencies’ efforts against drug and arms traffickers and smugglers, such as ATF’s PROJECT GUNRUNNER, and ICE’s OPERATION ARMAS CRUZADAS. I will also demonstrate how ICE may be violating Title 5 of the United States Code by the pre-selection of Alonzo Pena to be the first and new DHS Attaché at Mexico City. The U.S. Congress and the Bush Administration are funding two federal enforcement initiatives, which are being conducted by two different federal law enforcement agencies with basically the same ultimate enforcement goals and objectives.

ICE’s top priorities since its creation in 2003, have been illegal alien enforcement operations to include conducting numerous employment raids, such as the one conducted at a southwest Ohio poultry plant by utilizing some 300 ICE agents and supported in the raid by Butler County, Fairfield and West Chester police. The catch: 160 suspected illegal aliens arrested. See: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/08/29/news/nation/18_08_338_28_07.txt

The above ICE employment immigration operation used at least a million dollar figure to deploy the 300 ICE agents on temporary detail assignments to pay for their lodging, meals and miscellaneous expenses, not counting the fuel price spent and post-raid expenses incurred by other federal, state, and local government and private institutions.

ICE can be commended for doing an outstanding job on its immigration enforcement. However, what about the investigation and prosecution of drug and money laundering smuggling cartel organizations? What about our international child pornography Customs initiatives, about the illegal exportation and importation of weapons of mass destruction, about ferreting international Customs fraud ring organizations that importing “rotten” shrimp.

DHS Attaché Alonzo Pena – U.S. Embassy, Mexico City

The National Performance Review (NPR) appeared in March 1993 when President Clinton announced a 6-month review of the management systems and asked Vice President Gore to lead the effort. Vice President Gore organized a team of experienced federal government federal employees who met with federal employees across the country - seeking their input and inspiration. A daylong "Reinventing Government Summit" was conducted. The best minds from business, government and the academic community were selected in order to explore how best to apply the principles of reinventing government. NPR's recommendations and actions were published in a report which called for maximum deregulation, delegation of trust and decentralization.

I was honored to be appointed as a member of the NPR working team assigned to come out with certain solutions to the hiring and selection of best qualified federal employees from grades GS-1 through Senior Executive Series positions (SES). The NPR review ensured that merit, EEO, legal and regulatory requirements, and objectives were met. To this end, federal agencies were to ensure that there was fair and open competition; avoid even the appearance of pre-selection; and ensure that federal agencies were to hire and promote employees based on merit principles in accordance with current and existing U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) policies, rules, and regulations, as codified in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

One of the NPR recommendations was that the Office of Personnel Management phases out the entire 10,000 pages Federal Personnel Manual (FPM) in an effort to deregulate and decentralize Human Resources Management. Personnel management authority has been in the process of being delegated to agencies' line managers at the lowest level practical in each agency. Now more than ever, managers are entrusted to act fairly and responsibly in managing their employees; in this time of change, now more than ever before, managers and supervisors must become more actively involved in staffing the organization. Federal agencies are responsible for: a) anticipating staffing needs and planning for them; b) attempting to maintain a work force which is balanced in terms of representation of the society and in terms of training and experience backgrounds; and c) using all available flexibilities and strategies to meet the organizations' staffing needs.

As inasmuch that I wanted to write a more positive news report on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with the selection of former Arizona’s special agent in charge (SAC) Alonzo Pena to the position of DHS’ Attaché, Mexico City, DF, my review of his questionable pre-selection to that position will shock some dedicated hard working ICE employees who still believe on selecting the best candidate for a position on an open job application competition based on merit rather than on cronyism and favoritism. Now, all those White ICE managers and supervisors who came to ICE from the Legacy Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) and who speak fluent Spanish can file their complaints of “Reverse Discrimination” with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or complaints of pre-selection with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC).

Further, it appears that DHS and ICE have enough tax-payers monies to duplicate a firearms enforcement initiative in the USA and in Mexico that has been in operation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF). The DHS-ICE’s operation is called OPERATION ARMAS CRUZADAS, while ATF’s operation is called PROJECT GUNRUNNER.

Now, people from all over the world can see, Alonzo Pena, himself on a videotape identifying himself as the new DHS Attaché stationed at the U.S. Embassy, Mexico City, Mexico.

The Video Tape

Video Tape of DHS’ Attaché Alonzo Pena:

“Alonzo Pena, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Attache in Mexico City, describes a new U.S. Government multi-agency initiative to ... combat the ability of Mexican drug cartels to obtain illegal guns and ammunition from sources inside the United States” – GSN Magazine – http://www.veoh.com/videos/v14017556sfkt8GKQ?rank=5&

There is one problem though, where is Alonzo Pena? Is he in fact in Mexico City? After viewing Pena talking on the mentioned video tape, you may think that he is inside a cell or an empty room with a white wall behind him. Do you see any US flags, the DHS seal, ICE, or the U.S. State Department seals or names anywhere in the video tape?

Alonzo Pena (a federal Senior Executive Series employee) transfer to Mexico City as the new DHS Attaché was predicted back in February 2008 by local Arizona newspapers. Then in May 2008, Pena is interviewed by a news reporter in Austin, TX and he identifies himself as a DHS Attaché assigned to Mexico City. I spoke with the news reporter who interviewed Pena in Austin, TX, Mr. Juan Castillo who wrote a news story titled “Drug cartels not just Mexico's problem, official says - Gangs responsible for 6,000 deaths, 'historic levels' of violence” – I listed news reporter Juan Castillo’s news story under my reference caption. However, I asked Castillo if he confirmed if Alonzo Pena was in fact stationed at the U.S. Embassy at Mexico City. After giving me some vague answers, I perceived that he did not remember the interview nor can he confirm that Pena was in fact stationed at the U.S. Embassy.

Considering that Pena spent roughly 14-16 months as the ICE’s special agent in Charge (SES) Arizona, my guess is that he was rewarded with being appointed to the coveted SES DHS Attaché position in Mexico City for repairing the damage that Roberto Medina, an SES, unprofessional, unethical and mediocre manager caused in Arizona. However, as I already reported, Medina instead of being disciplined for his misconduct, he was re-located to his hometown of El Paso, TX where he is the SES ICE special agent in charge.

I don’t believe the DHS Attaché position was ever announced under OPM job opportunities. Thus, Pena’s pre-selection is suspect. Another irrefutable fact is that ICE has already an Attaché stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. As of 2007, his name is Juan Estrada. Now, ICE will have two Attaches doing basically the same thing. By the way, the job that Pena is tasked to do, falls under the jurisdiction of the ICE’s Attaché. However, since Juan Estrada is only a GS-1811-15, he will have to answer to Alonzo Pena, assuming Pena is in fact physically located at the U.S. Embassy.

I contacted the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, and ICE’s headquarters to confirm that Alonzo Pena is where he is supposed to be. However, as expected, I received no replies.

Still intrigued by the fact that Alonzo Pena’s whereabouts are still unknown, I reviewed almost all news releases by the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico City, all press releases given by ICE’s boss Julie Myers regarding OPERATION ARMAS CRUZADAS, but the name of Alonzo Pena does not appear anywhere.

I spent several hours searching for any picture or video of Alonzo Pena with Julie Myers, or U.S. Ambassador Antonio O. Garza but found none. In fact on June 9, 2009, Ambassador Garza issued the following press release on OPERATION ARMAS CRUZADAS:

Statement by Ambassador Antonio O. Garza

Mexico City, June 9, 2008 - “Today in Houston, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Immigration and Customs Enforcement Julie Myers met with representatives from Mexico’s Office of the Attorney General (PGR), the Secretariat of Public Security (SSP), and Customs to announce Operation Armas Cruzadas. This program will identify and disrupt cross-border arms smuggling rings through improved, real-time information sharing.

“Armas Cruzadas directly addresses a crucial front in our shared fight against narcotrafficking in the border region. It creates a virtual network and gives law-enforcement officials the ability to cooperate across the border to identify trafficking organizations and intercept illegal arms. This program builds directly on the already impressive law enforcement cooperation between our two countries.

“The announcement was made at the first ever Border Enforcement Security Task Forces (BEST) Conference, also attended by Senator Charles Grassley, Congressman Henry Cuellar and Congressman Mark Souder. There are currently ten BEST task forces in Texas, Arizona and California, integrating the efforts of U.S. and Mexican federal and local law enforcement agencies all along the border.

“Mexican law enforcement participation in the BESTs has aided in the successful return of criminal fugitives sought in both countries, including the removal to Mexico of one of that nation's most wanted fugitives. BEST arms smuggling investigations have led to numerous arrests and the seizure of thousands of rounds of ammunition and firearms, including a cache of AK-47 assault rifles destined for Mexico. In 2007, BESTs were responsible for more than 500 criminal arrests and nearly 300 criminal indictments, as well as the seizure of more than 2,000 pounds of cocaine, 50,000 pounds of marijuana, 2,300 weapons and nearly $3 million in U.S. currency.

“Armas Cruzadas is one more step in our common effort to disrupt the illegal gun trade and undercut criminal violence in Mexico and the border region. I congratulate all the participants from the Mexican and U.S. governments in this bold initiative.” http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/eng/releases/ep080609armas.html

I reviewed the above press release line by line, word by word, and still I was not able to see the name of Alonzo Pena. How can Alonzo Pena be missing from such a big conference, the first ever Border Enforcement Security Task Forces (BEST) Conference, attended by his boss Julie Myers, Senator Charles Grassley, Congressman Henry Cuellar, Congressman Mark Souder and a delegation of high ranking Mexican federal officials? Where was Alonzo Pena?

On April 16, 2008, U.S. Senator Jeff Bingham issued the following press release:

“Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - Bingaman Introduces Southwest Border Violence Reduction Act - SENATOR ALSO SEEKS FUNDING TO HELP DISARM MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today introduced legislation aimed at reducing border violence and drug smuggling by cracking down on the gunrunning trade.

Bingaman pointed out that the Mexican government recently deployed 2,000 troops and federal police to the state of Chihuahua to crack down on the violence that led to more than 200 deaths this year.  While that effort has helped quell the violence for now, Bingaman believes a long-term strategy is badly needed.

Bingaman’s Southwest Border Violence Reduction Act of 2008 would tackle the duel problem of drug smuggling and violence by ramping up efforts to prevent gunrunning from the United States to Mexico.  According to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) 90 percent of the weapons seized in Mexico are from the United States.

“Mexican drug cartels rely heavily on guns smuggled from the United States to perpetuate deadly violence and intimidate law enforcement,” Bingaman said.  “To reduce violence in the region and disrupt the drug trade, it is essential to target the gunrunning operations arming these violent cartels.”

Specifically, Bingaman’s bill authorizes $15 million in both fiscal year 2009 and 2010 to expand the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Gunrunner Initiative” – a successful initiative that targets gun trafficking networks. (Visit this link for more information: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/04/03/gun.smuggling/?iref=mpstoryview)

The funding would enable ATF to hire, train and deploy an additional 80 special agents, enough for at least seven more Project Gunrunner Teams in the border region to investigate and help prosecute individuals that traffic weapons into Mexico.

The bill also authorizes $9.5 million in both fiscal year 2009 and 2010 to enhance cooperation between the United States and Mexico.  This funding would allow ATF to assign an additional 12 agents to consulates in Mexico to support Mexico’s efforts to trace seized weapons and to train Mexican law enforcement officials in anti-trafficking investigative techniques.

Bingaman is simultaneously seeking federal funding for his plan.  He has already written letters to top Senate leaders on the Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Justice Department urging that they provide $15 million in FY 2009 for ATF’s Project Gunrunner Initiative.  He has also written to top Senate appropriators seeking $9.5 million in the FY 2008 Emergency Supplemental Spending bill being developed to enhance cooperation between Mexico and the United States in the investigation of arms trafficking organizations.

“To avoid future flare ups of violence along the border, we need to adopt a long-term approach to disarming Mexico’s drug cartels,” Bingaman said.  “I hope Congress will take quick action on my proposal.” http://bingaman.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=296282

On April 4, 2008, U.S. Ambassador Garza, Mexico President Felipe Calderon and Calderon’s National Security Cabinet visited Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. I am posting next Garza’s press release. I doubt very much Garza took his entourage to the infamous “House of Death” the location where numerous human beings were murdered by drug traffickers and smugglers, including a paid and controlled ICE’s documented informant. The “House of Death” story which consist of over 70 investigative reports by my fellow co-publisher Bill Conroy, can now be seen on video at: http://www.narconews.com/Issue54/article3134.html

Press Releases 08

Visit to Ciudad Juarez

Statement by Ambassador Antonio O. Garza

“Ciudad Juarez, April 4, 2008 – “Like others, I have been concerned about the reports of increased violence and crime in Ciudad Juarez, and felt it was important to come to the region to see and hear first-hand how the current situation is unfolding.

“Despite valiant attempts by Mexican law enforcement in the area, crime and violence is rapidly increasing. The statistics are alarming: nearly 200 murders have been registered this year— well on pace to surpass the number of killings last year; almost 2,000 vehicles were stolen in January and February; bank robberies are at record levels; and kidnappings for ransom are also on the rise.

“Last week, members of President Felipe Calderon’s National Security Cabinet, including the Interior Secretary, Defense Secretary, Attorney General and others, met with the Chihuahua Governor Jose Reyes Baeza Terrazas in Ciudad Juarez to announce the launching of Operacion Conjunta Chihuahua. The objective of this Presidential initiative is to dismantle the criminal networks in northern Mexico piece by piece.

“Obviously, we support President Calderon’s initiative and also take this criminal activity seriously. Narco-violence and crime affects the lives of citizens on both sides of our shared border, and we must be resolute in going after these menaces to our society and way of life.

“Today I met with U.S. government law enforcement agents and others knowledgeable about the situation in Ciudad Juarez. They confirmed what I had been hearing by attributing the escalation of violence in part to competing organized crime networks vying for control of drug trafficking routes, as well as the governmental successes in disrupting these crime organizations.

“Lastly, with our current travel alert due to expire next week, this trip also gave me the opportunity to evaluate how we should inform Americans of the dangers associated with narco-violence in this area. While there is little doubt in my mind that the travel alert should be re-issued, it may also be necessary to heighten the alert to better reflect the increasing insecurity in the state of Chihuahua.”

http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/eng/releases/ep080404CdJuarez.html

On April 3, 2008, Reuters issued the following news report:

Project Gunrunner ATF Agents Arrest Juarez Drug Cartel Gun Smuggler

“WASHINGTON, April 3, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Victor Varela, the

alleged leader of a firearms trafficking network operating in Arizona and New

Mexico, was arrested by special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,

Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Fugitive

Task Force and Attorney General's Office in Arizona, today announced ATF

Special Agent in Charge William Newell of the ATF Phoenix Field Division and

Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard.

As part of an ATF Project Gunrunner investigation, law enforcement officers

disrupted a group of gun traffickers and recovered several weapons, including

.50-caliber semiautomatic rifles and several handguns, allegedly intended to

supply drug trafficking organization (DTO) members of the Juarez Cartel in

Palomas, Mexico, located just south of Columbus, N.M. State charging documents

allege that Varela and his co-defendants, who acted as "straw purchasers,"

purchased a number of firearms in Arizona for the purpose of supplying them to

DTOs in Mexico. Allegedly, the group transported the illegally purchased

firearms to New Mexico, then into Mexico for use in ongoing confrontations

with rival DTOs and with law enforcement authorities in Mexico.

"The quick action by ATF in this investigation exemplifies our commitment to

cut off the illegal flow of firearms to violent criminals in the United States

and Mexico," said Newell. "The Arizona Attorney General's Office and ATF are

working closely together to address the concerns of the Government of Mexico

regarding firearms trafficking. This is just one of many ongoing

investigations by ATF Phoenix and its law enforcement partners."

"This case was made one of our highest priorities because of the nature of the

crime alleged to be committed by Varela. This arrest is a direct reflection of

our commitment to assist not only law enforcement agencies within the United

States, but our international partners as well," said U.S. Marshal David

Gonzales.

Along with the seized firearms, Varela was attempting to purchase a fully

automatic, M-60 machine gun for a DTO associate in Palomas. Additionally, a

number of firearms recovered by Mexico law enforcement and military personnel,

recently mobilized to de-escalate gun violence in Palomas and Juarez,

Chihuahua, allegedly were trafficked by Varela's gun smuggling network. ATF,

through its attache office in Mexico City and special agents on the southwest

U.S. border, is sharing law enforcement intelligence with counterparts in

Mexico to assist in their ongoing investigations tied to the gunrunners.

Varela is in the custody of the Maricopa County (Ariz.) Sheriff's Office on

fraudulent schemes charges, and is being prosecuted by the Arizona Attorney

General's Office. Along with ATF and the attorney general's office, the U.S.

Marshals Service and Arizona Department of Public Safety assisted in the

investigation and arrests. More information on ATF and Project Gunrunner can

be found at www.atf.gov/.

CONTACT: Drew Wade, +1-202-648-8500, or PIO Tom Mangan, +1-602-859-6317, both

of ATF SOURCE  Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Drew Wade, +1-202-648-8500, or PIO Tom Mangan, +1-602-859-6317, both of ATF”

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS238261+03-Apr-2008+PRN20080403

On February 7, 2008, ATF’s Assistant Director William Hoover testified before the U.S. Congress whereby he specifically outlined what ATF is doing in the USA and specifically in Mexico with their PROJECT GUNRUNNER:

STATEMENT OF WILLIAM HOOVER, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR FIELD OPERATIONS BUREAU OF

ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES BEFORE THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE - February 7, 2008 http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/110/hoo020708.htm

On January 16, 2008, U.S. Ambassador Garza issued the following press release regarding ATF’s PROJECT GUNRUNNER:

Press Releases 08

Our Continued Efforts Will Deny Firearms to Criminal Organizations and Reduce Gun Violence

Statement by Ambassador Antonio O. Garza

“Mexico City, January 16, 2008 - “Today I am announcing that the U.S. government is increasing its ongoing efforts to stem the illegal flow of firearms to Mexico, to deprive drug trafficking organizations of firearms and to reduce gun-related violence on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

“As part of Project Gunrunner, announced today by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), eTrace technology will be used in all nine U.S. consulates in Mexico to help trace firearms. Using eTrace technology bolsters the capacity of law enforcement agencies to identify patterns of drug traffickers and other criminal organizations bringing guns into Mexico from the United States. In addition, eTrace assists criminal investigators to develop leads and prosecute firearms traffickers and straw purchasers (people who knowingly purchase guns for prohibited persons) even before they cross the border.

“The eTrace technology was recently installed in U.S. consulates in Monterrey, Hermosillo and Guadalajara, with additional deliveries to all the remaining U.S. consulates in Mexico planned by March 2008. We also are in discussions with the government of Mexico to create a Spanish-language version of eTrace for use by law enforcement agencies in Mexico.

“Project Gunrunner will also focus ATF’s investigative, intelligence and training expertise to suppress firearms trafficking to Mexico, with additional special agents, industry operations investigators and intelligence research specialists in the United States assigned to combat firearms trafficking to Mexico.

“The continued expansion of our enforcement and strategic efforts on the U.S.-Mexico border, in partnership with the government of Mexico and other U.S. agencies, will deny firearms to criminal organizations and combat gun-related violence and homicides on both sides of the U.S.- Mexico border.”

http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/eng/releases/ep080116eTrace.html

ATF also issued its own press release which I listed under the reference section of this story:

On February 3, 2006, then ICE special agent in charge Alonzo Pena appears with his boss ICE assistant secretary Julie Myers for a press conference regarding some arrests and seizures under Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) in Laredo, Texas.

http://www.ice.gov/doclib/pi/news/insideice/articles/060308insideice.pdf

Epilogue

Having worked in South America at various U.S. Embassies as a U.S. Customs special agent, I know that in a foreign country and at every U.S. Embassy, the Ambassador is like the “King” – He or she can remove any official from his embassy. I also happen to know that any U.S. federal agency who want to assign an employee to any U.S. Embassy, the employee must first be “vetted” – and believe me, the CIA, FBI, DEA and U.S. State Department play an important role in the vetting process. This is possibly one reason Alonzo Pena is not yet stationed at the U.S. Embassy or his name or picture does not appears anywhere as the Official DHS Attaché at Mexico City. However, it is unknown where Alonzo Pena is.  But then, why Pena videotaped himself stating that he was the DHS Attaché in Mexico City?

ICE’s Julie Myers and Alonzo Pena claims that OPERATION ARMAS CRUZADAS is being managed by DHS and ICE out of Washington, DC and that ICE is the leading agency. Further that the Border Enforcement Security Task Forces (BEST) is being managed by ICE and that ICE is the leading agency in all enforcement operations. In my 26.5 years of working with the U.S. government as a special agent, I worked with INS, ATF, DEA, Customs, and ICE. I also had the opportunity to assign subordinate senior special agents to work with the FBI’s San Diego Corruption Task Force. In our federal law enforcement bureaucracy, in the United States or abroad, the FBI or DEA will not be subjected to work for another agency. You see, we still have some very serious “turf” problems – a fact that no one at the above agencies will dare to publicly admit. Fortunately for me, I still have plenty of loyal and trusted friends at the FBI, DEA, ICE, ATF and other U.S. intelligence agencies that I cannot list. Unfortunately for ICE, this agency is considered lower in status among the rest, only because their emphasis on investigating such a low priority cases such as arresting illegal aliens whose only crime is that of being illegally in the USA.

Alonzo Pena an ICE's Senior Executive Service employee has never been assigned to any foreign office (s), nor he has ever been assigned to the Legacy U.S. Customs Service's or ICE's Headquarters.  All of his promotions were given to him without going through the alleged "mandatory HQ tour of at least two years" under the old Customs agency.

References

U..S. Embassy - MEXICO CITY

Paseo de la Reforma 305, Col. Cuauhtémoc,

06500, APO/FPO

PO Box 9000,

Brownsville, TX 78520-0900

Telephone: 011-52-55-5080-2000, Fax 011-52-55-5080-2005, Fax: 011-52-55-5525-5040

INMARSAT Tel 683-142-218-172

Workweek: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Website: http://mexico.usembassy.gov/

Email: ccsmexicocity@state.gov

Officer Name

DHS/CIS Oscar E. Lujan

DHS/ICE Attaché Juan Estrada

DOJ/ATF Attaché Eugenio A. Marquez

News Reports

U.S. should focus on stemming gun flow, Mexico says - Reuters - Sat May 24, 2008

“MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The chief of Mexico's war on drug gangs said Washington should concentrate on halting the flow of arms to Mexican drug cartels rather than haggle over how much aid to give Mexico's anti-smuggling operation.

Reacting to a vote by U.S. lawmakers to trim an aid package for the drug war, Mexico's deputy attorney general, Jose Luis Santiago Vasconcelos, said an alternative would be to keep the cash in the United States and use it to curb illegal arms trafficking across the border.

"Some of us were talking, remarking that, well, this (sum of money) is all very well, but why don't we tell the Americans they could spend it on their (border security forces) to stop the flow of arms to Mexico," Santiago Vasconcelos said in remarks on local radio distributed by his office on Saturday.

Santiago Vasconcelos, the point man in Mexico's crackdown on drug smuggling gangs, said 97 percent of the weapons used by Mexican drug gangs came from the United States.” http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN2429944720080525

Drug cartels not just Mexico's problem, official says - Gangs responsible for 6,000 deaths, 'historic levels' of violence - By Juan Castillo - AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF - Friday, May 23, 2008

“As Mexico takes unprecedented steps to dismantle criminal organizations, the gangs are wreaking historic levels of violence that are responsible for an estimated 6,000 deaths in the past 21/2 years, a top U.S. law enforcement official said Thursday in Austin.

"We must not let the Mexican government combat these gangs without our help. These enemies are ours, too," said Alonzo Peña, who has been named the Department of Homeland Security's first attaché to Mexico. Peña spoke at the Global Border Security Conference and Expo at the Austin Convention Center.” http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/nation/05/23/0523mexviolence.html

Latina List News - Mariza Trevino – March 25, 2008

“PHOENIX — After sixteen months of improving relations between Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE with the state of Arizona, the state agency's leader, Alonzo Peña, has been transferred to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico.

Former Arizona ICE chief, Alonzo Peña, begins his new duties at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico in April.
(Source: Phoenix New Times)

Achieving important results with his work to combat human trafficking, Peña is starting a new chapter in his professional career working with internal security at the diplomatic headquarters in Mexico City's Distrito Federal. He assumes his new duties on April 7.” http://www.latinalista.net/phoenix/2008/03/new_ice_chief_will_focus_on_employers_wh.html

MORE MUSICAL CHAIRS IN THE IMMIGRATION BUREAUS

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has picked its successor to the woes of illegal immigration in Arizona, Matt Allen, a former chief for the agency’s Nogales office, sources confirmed today.

Allen, a former assistant special agent in charge in the Nogales office, will take over ICE in Arizona in the next few days, though the agency hasn’t announced anything publicly. He replaces Alonzo Peña, who was nearly on his way out the door as soon he got here. Peña held the position for a little more than a year. Allen makes seven or eight customs jefes in charge of Arizona since ICE was created in 2003. It is not a popular job; this state remains the number one corridor for migrant smuggling and, poundage-wise, drug trafficking along the border.”

http://borderreporter.com/?p=419arizona%20ICE%20chief%20set%20to%20exit;%20boosted%20police%20cooperation

Daniel González
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 2, 2008 12:00 AM

“The federal agent in charge of immigration enforcement in Arizona may be leaving, just 15 months after he arrived to lead one of the most critical offices in the nation and relieve tensions with state officials over combating illegal immigration.

Alonzo Peña, special agent in charge of investigations for Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Arizona, is in the final stages of accepting a high-level position in Mexico City with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, an agency source said. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because the job is not yet official.

Peña declined to comment. He is the sixth person to oversee the ICE office in Phoenix since the agency was created in 2003.

Vincent Picard, an ICE spokesman in Phoenix, said,’We have received no official notification that Mr. Peña is leaving. He is still in charge of the office of investigations.’"

Several law-enforcement officials who work directly with ICE said they have heard Peña may be leaving soon.

The officials expressed regret and credited Peña with repairing the broken relationship between ICE and local law enforcement that existed under his predecessor, Roberto Medina.”

Reach the reporter at daniel.gonzalez@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8312.

http://sosusa.us/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=8434&sid=1bd5d4e2f08ca2fac5b846603e1d05a9

Sources say local ICE honcho Alonzo Pena headed for revolving door (w/UPDATE)...

Phoenix New Times - Jan 04, 2008 at 08:49:44 AM

“Say it ain't so, Alonzo...

Word's out that local ICE honcho Alonzo Pena will soon be skating after just about 14 months in his position. Sources say Pena's set to depart in a week or two – though knowing how the feds do things, one or two weeks could stretch out to 2 or 3 months. No word yet on when he’ll be replaced or who with.

If true, this'd make Pena the sixth agent-in-charge of the Arizona ICE office since 2003. I'm a little skeptical because I heard the same story a while back, with Pena's vamoose date set for sometime this past October. But those who should know are chattering incessantly that it's a done deal.

Speculation's been that Pena was never long for the job, in part because his wife decided to stay in San Antonio, where Pena had been the local ICE potentate, rather than join Pena in the PHX. Though you'd think to most married men being a thousand miles away from the wifey would have its advantages.”

ICE’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) (Includes ICE’s Attaché in Mexico City)

“Mission

The Office of International Affairs (OIA) is the overseas investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). OIA works closely with all elements of ICE, and serves as a key component in the President’s international crime control strategy.

Roles and Responsibilities

ICE's Office of International Affairs provides operational and programmatic management of ICE attachés at foreign embassies and consulates worldwide; OIA also coordinates and supports all foreign investigative activities of ICE. OIA works with foreign counterparts in combating transnational crimes involving national security, financial, smuggling, illegal arms exports, forced child labor, child pornography, human trafficking, intellectual property rights, commercial and immigration fraud violations.

OIA assists host-country counterparts in the development and implementation of legislation and regulations; provides training to foreign officials; responds to government and public requests for trade, travel and business information; supports the implementation of treaties, agreements and international cooperative programs.

Acquiring and developing intelligence related to cross-border criminal activity is also important to OIA's mission.”

http://www.ice.gov/about/internationalaffairs/