Bus Stop (Wizbang)

The Desert Sun reports on a new tactic possibly being used by US border patrol-

The U.S. Border Patrol picked up six parents dropping off their young children at a bus stop in Thermal on Tuesday, according to Coachella Valley Unified School District officials. Advertisement
"It happens in the fields and stuff and we understand that," said Elizabeth Ramirez, the principal of Oasis Elementary School, where the children attend school. "But we've never had it at a bus stop."

A spokesman for the U.S. Border Patrol, however, could not confirm Tuesday's reported detentions.

The agency had no record of any arrests made in the past three days in the Thermal area, said agency spokesman Gerardo Gonzalez, based in El Centro.

"We don't perform arrests at schools and churches," he added.

Witnesses said Border Patrol agents took the six parents into custody about 7:30 a.m. Tuesday -- when five buses typically pick up more than 350 elementary school children at a trailer park on Avenue 70.

School bus drivers claim arrests were made. Border patrol says they don't do this. Who are you supposed to believe? Wizbang readers know I am no fan of one agency(ICE) that helps to enforce US immigration. Nor am I naive enough to think an agency would never lie(or accidentally misinform the press or public).

This story was written three days ago. Nothing has been reported since. I'd think the Desert Sun would be digging further.

School officials were unable to identify, within the school day, which students' parents were involved, Ramirez said.
Nevertheless, school personnel sent someone to the bus stop after school to make sure each of the children were picked up by a family member or friend.

Privacy laws keep school officials from giving details about a student. However the article reports that they were unable to identify the students involved. Wouldn't they just say we can't name them because of privacy laws?

Do we have an immigration urban legend? It will be interesting to see if this story is reported any further.

Hat tip- Immigration Prof blog

Comments (8)

Very interesting point abou... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by Allen | January 31, 2009 10:12 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

Allen:

Very interesting point about the school board not mentioning they could say due to confidently reasons. Smells to high heaven, doesn't it?

And why, if I may ask, don't you like ICE? I think ICE needs to step up enforcement. I have nothing against immigrants, if they are here legally. It's the ones that are here illegally I am against. And those illegally brought their family's here also, realizing the price all would pay if they were caught.

A lot of area's schools are clogged with students of illegal immigrants, same as hospitals, etc. And the American taxpayers have to keep shelling out money to pay for it all.

Posted on January 31, 2009 10:12

I'm not saying this is what... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by Chip | January 31, 2009 10:26 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

Chip:

I'm not saying this is what happened; however, I wouldn't put it past a Mexican cartel to dress up a van like the Border patrol and do some kidnappin'. Just sayin'

Posted on January 31, 2009 10:26

Border Patrol chose its wor... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by mcg | January 31, 2009 10:44 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

mcg

Border Patrol chose its words carefully. They deny performing arrests at "schools and churches"---not at bus stops.

Posted on January 31, 2009 10:44

And with the presentation o... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by OLDPUPPYMAX | January 31, 2009 10:51 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

OLDPUPPYMAX:

And with the presentation of this little item, the left will seethe over the "unfairness" of such a dramatic and inappropriate use of schools. Why, just think of the trauma the poor, darling, innocent children have suffered! We, on the other hand, are more prone to ask why no one has done this before. Of course, offhand the whole thing sounds like a typical leftist ploy to undermine the authority and reputation of immigration officials and of the agency as a whole.

Posted on January 31, 2009 10:51

Border patrol says... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by Anon Y. Mous | January 31, 2009 11:00 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

Anon Y. Mous:

Border patrol says they don't do this.

Not exactly. From the article:

A spokesman for the U.S. Border Patrol, however, could not confirm Tuesday's reported detentions.

The agency had no record of any arrests made in the past three days in the Thermal area, said agency spokesman Gerardo Gonzalez, based in El Centro.

"We don't perform arrests at schools and churches," he added.

The bus stop in question was not at a school; it was at a trailer park. ICE can't confirm the story, but hasn't denied it. At the time of the quote, the spokesman said the had no record of the arrest. What was not said is how up to date their records are.

Witnesses said Border Patrol agents took the six parents into custody about 7:30 a.m. Tuesday -- when five buses typically pick up more than 350 elementary school children at a trailer park on Avenue 70.

It sounds like what really happened was ICE conducted a raid at a trailer park. Naturally, the school bus stops at the park to pick up the kids who live there and take them to school. So, the open borders/amnesty crowd try to paint this as a raid on a school. After all, why have an honest debate on the issue, when it's so much easier to make up lies, all with the help of their willing accomplices in the media.

Posted on January 31, 2009 11:00

I think they need to start ... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by retired military | January 31, 2009 11:49 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

retired military:

I think they need to start making arrests at immigration rallies, schools, and churches. If a murderer were in a church they would arrest them. If someone was speeding and ran into a church they would follow.

Posted on January 31, 2009 11:49

Why bother. What is border... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by Jason | January 31, 2009 1:10 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Jason:

Why bother. What is border control good for anyway?
http://www.rightklik.net/

Posted on January 31, 2009 13:10

Oh wow! We gonna add 'scho... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by GarandFan | January 31, 2009 2:04 PM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)

GarandFan:

Oh wow! We gonna add 'school bus stops' as a new 'safety zone' for illegals? Give me a fucking break. Already got the local 'alien rights groups' pissed because cops have the nerve to set up driver's license check points. Seems that's 'not fair' to ask to see a required piece of paper to drive a vehicle. The most often question they ask is 'why in this area?'. So again I ask, are there 'certain areas where the rules don't apply?'. If so, please have these areas marked. That way the cops and ICE can ignore them. In Vietnam we used to call these 'free fire zones'.

Posted on January 31, 2009 14:04