Saturday, June 30, 2018

Milwaukee Police Removed Barricades Opening Traffic Flow While Crowds Spilled Into The Street At Sunday's Families Belong Together Rally And Protest

Civilians put up barricades during downtown rally and protest to stop traffic flow from getting through after the crowds spilled into the street, but police immediately removed the barricades to allow traffic through while crowds blocked the street.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 30, 2018

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Sunday, after the crowds spilled into the street during the Keeping Families Together rally and protest against Trump's Zero Tolerance policy and the Muslim ban, Milwaukee police removed barricades that were put up by civilians to stop the traffic flow as a safety measure. A rally organizer had told those attending to stay off the street, since they had no permit to block the street. But as more people arrived at the downtown rally, the crowds spilled in to the street blocking traffic.
Milwaukee Police Lt. Harris when asked why the barricades were removed and no officer was designated to direct or divert traffic while the crowds spilled into the street? Lt. Harris said, that pedestrians were not allowed to put up barricades without a permit and they were taken down by him and other officers at the scene. When asked why wasn't discretion used to place an officer to divert traffic as a safety measure?, he responded that the event organizers had no permit to block the street.
People would think that as a safety measure, a police officer would be designated to divert traffic, but Lt. Harris response was "It's always our obligation to protect the public, did anybody get run over, anybody get hurt?"
An organizer for the event confirmed that they had applied for a permit about a week ago to block the street, but the City requested a month in advance notice of filing an application even though a permit was granted to hold the event on the sidewalks on both sides of the street.
In N. Dakota, GOP legislators passed a bill that allowed for drivers to go through crowds without stopping when traffic flow is blocked during rallies and protests.


Friday, June 29, 2018

Young People's Resistance Committee Marched In Milwaukee's Southside Against Trump's Zero Tolerance Policy

More than 100 students from various universities and colleges including allies rallied and marched against Trump's Zero Tolerance policy in Milwaukee's Southside.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 29, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - On Thursday, more than 100 students from various universities and colleges including allies gathered for a rally and impromptu march at Walker's Square Park in Milwaukee's Southside against Trump's Zero Tolerance policy that separates children from undocumented parents seeking asylum in the U.S. The protesters after several testimonials were provided by speakers, they decided to march on the street along W. Mineral St. to S. 11 St. heading north then turned west on W. National Ave. to S. César E. Chavez Dr. heading south to W. Greenfield Ave. then heading east on Greenfield to S. 10th St. and then they turn north on S. 10th to Walker's Square Park without any police escort. It was a peaceful march and no arrests were made.
The event was sponsored by Young People's Resistance Committee (YPRC) and allies. The protesters were also chanting during the march and demanding for Anselmo Villarreal, the Vice-chair of Southwest Key Projects (SWP or SWK) to resign from the Board of Directors. Villarreal, the current CEO from La Casa de Esperanza in Waukesha confirmed last Sunday to Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) that he will not resigned. Villarreal stated, "SWK doesn't support the separation of families at the border, SWK and other communities providers in this service area are the alternative to the cages you have seen in the media .
"The kids that we serve and their well-being are our main priority. Our goal is to reunite children with a parent or sponsor, but until then we provide food, clothing, licensed medical care, counseling, education and most importantly a safe and loving environment.
"We don't make policy and we don't run detention centers "WE CARE FOR CHILDREN."
"For 30 years we have been committed to our values and mission, regardless of policy so kids in need are taking care of and reunited with their families. I am honor to serve in the Board of SWK, so I AM NOT RESIGNING."
YPRC who was the formerly YES group affiliated with Voces de Frontera says that the Trump Administration has been running a terror campaign against immigrants in the United States. Most recently this has meant the separation of children from their families at the border. YPRC held the rally and march on Thursday to demand the following:

1. An end to the Trump Administration's zero-tolerance policy on the imprisonment of immigrants.

2. The right of families to remain united throughout the entire process of petitioning for asylum.

3. For Anselmo Villarreal to step down from his current position as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Southwest Key Program (SKP) and publicly denounce the separation of children from their families under the current administration's policy.

Thursday, June 28, 2018

Immigrant Rights Activists Chanted "Donald Trump Got To Go" And "Where Are The Children" During A Protest In Milwaukee

Hundreds of Latinos and allies gathered in downtown Milwaukee and marched to the Pfister Hotel to protest Trump's Zero Tolerance policy where he was attending Wisconsin Governor Walker's fundraiser.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 28, 2018

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Thursday, hundreds of Latinos and allies gathered at Zeidler Union Square, 300 W. Michigan Street and marched to the Pfister Hotel where President Donald Trump was attending a fundraiser for Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R) who is running for re-election. The protesters chanted, Where are the Children, Donald Trump got to go, El Pueblo unido jamás será vencido and Abolish ICE were some of the many chants used by those marching along West and East Wisconsin Ave.
Once they reached N. Milwaukee St. and E. Wisconsin Ave., a group of protesters including Christine Nuemann-Ortiz, the Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera and Brian Verdin, a former teacher from the Milwaukee Public Schools District staged a sit-in. After the sit-in, the protesters marched to the 794 freeway exit at N. Milwaukee Street and E. Clybourn Street and blocked the exit ramp and street by staging a sit-in. Milwaukee police arrived, but no arrests were made. The protesters ended their march and protest after giving testimonials and requesting for Trump to end his Zero Tolerance policy and immediate reunification of families that had been separated under his inhumane policy.
So far under Trump's Zero Tolerance policy more than 3,700 children have been separated from their undocumented parents.
On Tuesday, Southern California U.S. District Court Judge Dana Sabraw granted a temporary injunction in favor of the ACLU and the judge ordered the Trump administration to immediately reunify children under the age of 5 with their undocumented parents within 2 weeks and gave 30 days for children from age 5 and older to be reunify with their parents.
The march and sit-in on Thursday was organized by Voces de la Frontera  and allies.


Sunday, June 24, 2018

Online Petition From Young People's Resistance Committee Want Waukesha's Casa de Esperanza CEO Anselmo Villarreal To Resign From Southwest Key Programs Board

Villarreal has been a Board member at Southwest Key Programs since 2012.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 24, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - An online petition posted on Wednesday in Mijente dot net is requesting for Anselmo Villarreal, the CEO of La Casa de Esperanza in Waukesha to resign as Vice-chair of the Board at Southwest Key Programs. The petiton was posted by Jeanette Martin from Young People's Resistance Committee (YPRC), a student group at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The YPRC was formerly the YES youth group originated from Voces de la Frontera (VDLF), which is controlled by White liberals on the Board.
The petition reads, Anselmo Villarreal must step down from his current position as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Southwest Key Program (SKP or SWK) and publicly denounce the violent separation and criminalization of immigrant children and their families under the current administration's policy. 
The Young People's Resistance Committee discovered that Anselmo Villarreal, CEO of La Casa de Esperanza, one of Wisconsin's most important Latino community organizations, sits on the Board of Directors of the Southwest Key Program, the non-profit running child internment camps on the U.S.-Mexico border. La Casa de Esperanza is an important resource hub for the Waukesha Latino and immigrant community. We find it disturbing that Mr. Villareal would associate himself in any way with an organization that is complicit in the inhumane act of separating children from their families.
Several organizations, including the American Psychological Association, the American College of Physicians, and the American Public Health Association have denounced this policy. Mr. Villareal, there is no humane way of separating children from their families. Southwest Key Programs is complicit in this violation of rights; we urge you to step down from its board and renew your commitment to the humane treatment of immigrants everywhere, according to the petition. It has a limit of 100 people to sign the petition.
Villarreal, on Sunday released the following statement to Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) concerning the petition posted online by YPRC requesting for him to resign from SKP or SWK. Villarreal stated, "SWK doesn’t support the separation of families at the border, SWK and other communities providers in this service area are the alternative to the cages you have seen in the media .
"The kids that we serve and their well-being are our main priority. Our goal is to reunite children with a parent or sponsor, but until then we provide food, clothing, licensed medical care, counseling, education and most importantly a safe and loving environment.
"We don’t make policy and we don’t run detention centers “WE CARE FOR CHILDREN.”
"For 30 years we have been committed to our values and mission, regardless of policy so kids in need are taking care of and reunited with their families. I am honor to serve in the Board of SWK, so I AM NOT RESIGNING."
Apparently Southwest Key Programs has taken down its website and replaced it with a temporary website, which actually has very limited information and doesn't not identify its Board. Villarreal has been on the SKP Board since 2012.
SKP has a $458M an annual contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Office of Refugee Resettlement  to hold undocumented children in 2018 and has made $1.5B in the last 10 years under government contracts. 
The separating of children from undocumented parents by the border patrol is turning into a profit operation (who's profiting by separating or keeping families together detained indefinitely) for a non-profit that operates a dozen facilities housing undocumented children. After the children are processed at border patrol centers including in McAllen, they are transported to detention facilities operated by the non-profit organization Southwest Key Programs Inc., which will be paid more than $458M in 2018 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, according to TIME. The TIME reported that, "The nonprofit, Southwest Key Programs Inc., is to be paid more than $458 million in fiscal 2018, according to the data — the most among the organizations, government agencies and companies that run a detention and care system for immigrant children on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services. Southwest Key has about a dozen facilities in Texas, including a site at a former WalMart Inc. store in Brownsville that has drawn attention from members of Congress and national news organizations."
ABCNEWS reported that it cost about $700 to house a child per day in a facility run by Southwest Key.
Dr. Juan Jose Sanchez, the President and CEO of Southwest Key made $1.47M in salary in 2017 (IRS info), doubling his salary from 2016. Southwest Key operates 83 detention centers/shelters/schools around the country and his wife Jennifer Nelson listed as Vice-president in the latest tax filing made $260,000. In the last ten years, Southwest Key has been paid $1.5B under government contracts, CNN reported.
To deport an undocumented immigrant, it costs an estimated $13K each. According to a 2015 report by the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, Private Prison Corporations (PPC's) earned $3B for holding ICE detainees. An estimated 34,000 of undocumented immigrants are incarcerated daily costing between $159 to $200 each to hold in a private prison.
States do pay for most of the costs to hold undocumented detainees from their jurisdictions and the federal government reimburse the states about half.
A national day of action against separating children is planned for June 30 around the country, according to organizers.

The Southwest Key Programs Board of Directors

• Orlando Martinez - Board Chair from Atlanta, Georgia. Member since 2007

• Anselmo Villarreal - Board Vice-chair from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Member since 2012

• Rosa Santis - Board Treasurer from East Austin, Texas. Member since 2011

• Elizabeth V. Villegas, CLTC - Board Secretary from Austin, Texas. Member since 2011

• Victor Garza - Immediate Past Board Chair from Fresno, California. Member since 2004


• David Marshall Jr. - Board Member from Washington, D.C. Member since 2014

SKP released the following statement.

Official Statement from Southwest Key Programs on the Separation of Families:

Southwest Key Programs does not support separating families at the border. For 30 years, our work in offering youth justice alternatives, immigrant children's shelters, and education has served to improve the lives of thousands of young people. We believe keeping families together is better for the children, parents and our communities, and we remain committed to providing compassionate care and reunification. For every child who has come through our shelter doors, we start on day one to reunite them with their parents or a family sponsor and to provide the kind of service that will help them thrive. This has been our priority for decades.

Saturday, June 23, 2018

LULAC Members And Allies Block Bus Transporting Undocumented Children From the Ursula U.S. Border Patrol Processing Center In McAllen

Dozens of LULAC members and allies blocked a bus transporting undocumented children in McAllen during a protest to free the children.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 23, 2018

McAllen, Texas - On Saturday, dozens of League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) members and allies held a protest at the Ursula U.S. Border Patrol Processing Center at the 3700 block of W. Ursula Ave. in McAllen. Domingo Garcia, a candidate for National LULAC President and a civil rights attorney was one among dozens of protesters who blocked a border patrol transport bus from driving through the area where the protest was held. Garcia was among others who sat on the street until the bus backed up and went in the opposite direction. McAllen police and border patrol agents escorted the bus out in a different direction. The bus is operated by TrailBoss Ent Inc., which was transporting children as young as five and women and men.
Those at the protest yelled "Free the Children", "Aqui estamos y no nos Vamos" and other chants during Saturday's protest.
LULAC members from throughout Texas and other parts of the country participated including allies.
According to a LULAC press release, "Today, civil rights leaders from across the country gathered peacefully in a civil demonstration at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Center in McAllen to demand an immediate termination to the existing zero-tolerance policy. Keynote speakers included the iconic Dolores Huerta; Kerry Kennedy, President of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights; Domingo Garcia, President, LULAC Council 102; Hector Flores, Past National LULAC President; Rosa Rosales, Past National LULAC President; Rev. Peter Johnson, The Peter Johnson Institute for Nonviolence; Gabriel Rosales, LULAC National Vice President of the Southwest; Michael Waters, Faith Forward Dallas, and Imam Omar Suleiman, Faith Forward Dallas."
Last week Sunday, a Father's Day vigil was held and organized by National Domestic Workers Alliance, United We Dream, ACLU, America's Voice, People's Action, Women's Refugee Commission, Faith in Action, Fuerza del Valle, LUPE (La Unión Del Pueblo Entero), and Neta. The vigil exposed how undocumented children were being held in chain link cages (similar to kennels) at the McAllen border patrol processing center and on Monday a video audio was released and people could hear children crying and asking for relatives and parents.
Several lawsuits have been filed in federal court alleging that undocument children had been subjected and forced to take pyschotic drugs, were beaten, handcuffed naked in cells by detention center staff members who have been contracted by the government to house children.
The ACLU also reported that document's obtained revealed that the border patrol agents and staff from detention centers have sexually, mentally and physically abuse children. 
According to CNN, a lawsuit filed claim a range from unsanitary conditions and invasive monitoring of mail and phone calls to unair-conditioned rooms in hot Texas summers and dosing children with cocktails of psychotropic drugs disguised as vitamins. At one facility, children recounted being held down for forcible injections, which medical records show are powerful antipsychotics and sedatives.
Several centers in the lawsuits included Shiloh RTC in Manvel, Texas and Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Center in Virginia. 
The U.S. Navy is planning to use abandoned military bases to built tent cities (internment camps) to house and detain more than 20,000 undocumented children, according the Pentagon.
Trump recently signed an executive order to keep children united with their undocumented parents while incarcerated and facing criminal charges for entering the U.S. illegally. Immigrant rights activists say it doesn't go far enough and Trump's executive order to unite children did not include a grandfather clause to reunite already separated children with their parents. Trump hasn't provided a plan on how the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is going to reunite children with their parents.
Some children have been lost in the system and can't be located.
The separating of children from undocumented parents by the border patrol is turning into a profit operation (who's profiting by separating or keeping families together detained indefinitely) for a non-profit that operates a dozen facilities housing undocumented children. After the children are processed at border patrol centers including in McAllen, they are transported to detention facilities operated by the non-profit organization Southwest Key Programs Inc., which will be paid more than $458M in 2018 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, according to TIME. The TIME reported that, "The nonprofit, Southwest Key Programs Inc., is to be paid more than $458 million in fiscal 2018, according to the data — the most among the organizations, government agencies and companies that run a detention and care system for immigrant children on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services. Southwest Key has about a dozen facilities in Texas, including a site at a former WalMart Inc. store in Brownsville that has drawn attention from members of Congress and national news organizations."
ABCNEWS reported that it cost about $700 to house a child per day in a facility run by Southwest Key.
Dr. Juan Jose Sanchez, the President and CEO of Southwest Key made $1.47M in salary in 2017 (IRS info), doubling his salary from 2016. Southwest Key operates 83 detention centers/shelters/schools around the country and his wife Jennifer Nelson listed as Vice-president in the latest tax filing made $260,000. In the last ten years, Southwest Key has been paid $1.5B under government contracts, CNN reported.
To deport an undocumented immigrant, it costs an estimated $13K each. According to a 2015 report by the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, Private Prison Corporations (PPC's) earned $3B for holding ICE detainees. An estimated 34,000 of undocumented immigrants are incarcerated daily costing between $159 to $200 each to hold in a private prison.
States do pay for most of the costs to hold undocumented detainees from their jurisdictions and the federal government reimburse the states about half.
A national day of action against separating children is planned for June 30 around the country, according to organizers.


Domingo Garcia, President of LULAC Council 102 released the following statement, "I have been asked today, Domingo why did you put yourself in front of a big migra bus in McAllen, Texas. It’s because I saw these children’s faces behind the bars on the bus, at the protest. They waived at me, as an American and Christian, I had to act. As a father, I could not let them just disappear or go to another baby jail. I had to try to protect these children of God, from the cruel political games of politicians in Washington D.C. Together we turned that bus around because hundreds joined us. LULAC members from all of Texas joined us. We now have to change the hearts and minds of Americans of who we are and what we stand for as a country, to defeat hate with love, darkness with light, and bigotry with unity. Hasta la Victoria, and we will do this again at every detention center in the nation on July 4th."

"Me han preguntado hoy, Domingo porque te pusiste en frente de ese grande camión de migra en McAllen, Texas. Es porque cuando vi las caras de esos niños detrás de las bardas en el camión en la protesta. Me dieron un saludó con las manos, y como Americano y Cristiano, tenía que tomar acción. Como un padre, yo no podía nomas dejarlos desaparecer o ir a otra cárcel de bebés. Yo tenía que proteger estos niños de Dios, de los juegos políticos de los políticos en Washington D.C. Juntos giramos ese autobús de vuelta porque cientos se unieron a nosotros. Miembros de LULAC de todo Texas se unieron con nosotros. Ahora tenemos que cambiar los corazones y mentes de Americanos de quien somos y cuales son nuestros valores como nación, para derrotar odio con amor, la oscuridad con luz, y fanatismo con unidad. Hasta la Victoria, y los volvemos hacer e todos los centros de detención en todo el país el 4 de Julio".

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Mayor Tom Barrett Considering To Replace Milwaukee Fire and Police Commissioner Marisabel Cabrera

Fire and Police Commissioner Cabrera targeted by Mayor Barrett to be replaced when two other commissioners have notified the mayor that they are willing to be replaced.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 20, 2018

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Wednesday, a leak from Milwaukee City Hall indicated that Mayor Tom Barrett has targeted current Milwaukee Fire and Police Commissioner Marisabel Cabrera for replacement. According to the information, Barrett will recommend Mariana Rodriguez from the Latina Resource Center to replace Commissioner Cabrera. Cabrera has not released nor confirmed that she is stepping down, but Barrett has the option to nominate Rodriguez to replace one of two other commissioners who are willing to step down.
Barrett is expected to announced his recommendation to replace Cabrera at any time.
Cabrera is credited for exposing the Milwaukee Police Department's intent to allow police officers to asked for legal status from people they encountered during traffic stops and other instances, but a community outraged led for former Police Chief Edward Flynn and Mayor Barrett to scrap the policy to ask for papers.
Nine members of the Milwaukee Common Council wrote a letter to Mayor Barrett on Wednesday urging for the mayor to reconsider his decision to replace Commissioner Cabrera. The members are Ald. NiK Kovac, Ald. Robert J. Bauman, Ald. Milele A. Coggs, Ald. Khalif J. Rainey, Ald. Robert G. Donovan, Ald. Chantia Lewis, Ald. Michael J. Murphy, Ald. Mark A. Borkowski, Ald. José G. Pérez, Ald. Tony Zielinski and Ald. Russell W. Stamper, ll. They wrote, "We write to ask that you reconsider your decision to replace Ms. Marisabel Cabrera as a member of the Board of the Fire and Police Commissioners...Cabrera has shown herself a strong, independent voice, willing to listen respectfully and make decisions thoughtfully, free of undue influence from any one group or individual...Her leadership was central to the process by which the department reconsidered its ill-advised policies relating to immigrant contact last Summer...By actions of this type, and by her independence, she has earned the trust of those the Commission is expected to serve...we believe that making the decision not to reappoint Ms. Cabrera before her term expires sends a message that you have prioritized personal loyalty over public transparency and accountability."
Cabrera is currently a candidate for the 9th State Assembly District and is challenging State Representative Josh Zepnick (D-Milw.) in the Partisan Primary Election on August 14, 2018.

Update: On Thursday, July 12, 2018, the Milwaukee Mayor's Office confirmed that Mariana Rodriguez decided to drop out from being nominated to replace Commissioner Marisabel Cabrera in the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission.

Sunday, June 17, 2018

Father's Day Vigil At The Ursula U.S. Border Patrol Processing Center In McAllen Draws Call To End The Zero Tolerance Practice To Separate Families

Hundreds of people from various cities and states from across the nation gathered outside from the Ursula U.S. Border Patrol Processing Center in McAllen to call for the end of the Zero Tolerance policy that authorized border patrol and ICE agents to separate children from undocumented parents.

By H. Nelson Goodson 
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 17, 2018

McAllen, Texas - On Sunday, hundreds of activists, families and allied from the region in South Texas including from other parts of the country converged in McAllen as an organized effort to call for President Donald Trump to end his Zero Tolerance policy that has allowed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Border Patrol agents to separate children from families of undocumented parents. The Ursula U.S. Border Patrol Processing Center at the 3700 block of W. Ursula Ave. in McAllen is one of the multiple centers where children of undocumented parents are processed, held for long periods and then transferred to other facilities as part of a detention process before being deported.
A Congressional delegation by U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, of Oregon; Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland; U.S. Representative Peter Welch of Vermont; Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island; Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin; Texas Reps. Vicente Gonzalez including Filemón Bartolomé Vela Jr. who represents the McAllen area also arrived to visit the processing center for undocumented children and spoke against the Zero Tolerance policy as well.
Julian Castro, the former Secretary of Housing of Urban Development under the Obama administration spoke on Sunday in McAllen at the Father's Day vigil against the separation of families, while in the background, a border patrol bus passed with undocumented children being transported to another holding facility.
During the vigil, George Goehl, the Director of People's Action said, “This administration has been off the rails since Day 1 but this is a new kind of off the rails. History shows us in situations like this if we do not stand up en masse and say, ‘this is not ok,” it’s hard to get back on track. Our nations’ history is marked by moments where we heeded the call to stand down hatred and racism and there are moments where we didn’t show up. This is a moment when we can and must show up and shut this down. Here’s the thing, Donald Trump can make that happen immediately, this does not require an act of Congress, he can do this today right now on Father’s Day and we demand that he does just that.”
According to the organizers in a press release, "They will call for an end to the Trump administration's cruel policies of separating parents from their children at the border and traumatizing immigrant families. This effort builds upon recent events on June 1 and June 14 and is part of the ongoing
#FamiliesBelongTogether campaign to stop the separation of families.
During the vigil​, an 11-year-old girl from Florida will share messages of support from children in her community, along with fathers and grandfathers, faith leaders and community members from around the country.
"The family trauma is countless in McAllen: authorities ripped a baby from the arms of her Honduran mother, as she was breastfeeding; 1,500 children are being housed in a former Walmart; and, as reported by Nick Miroff of the Washington Post, Marco Antonio Muñoz, a Honduran father who was separated from his wife and child, committed suicide while in detention. Muñoz fled violence in Honduras."
Click for actual undocumented children crying and asking for their parents inside a holding facility that were recorded by a consular worker during an interview with Allison Jimena Valencia Madrid, 6, and a border patrol agent in the background can be heard joking that it sounds like an orchestra and a conductor is needed. The recorded cries and pleas by children to see their parents was documented a week ago. 
Today, more than 12,000 undocumented children are being held in detention centers around the country, which includes unaccompanied children. The U.N. has condemned Trump for enacting his Zero Tolerance policy and says it's illegal. Currently, there is no law requiring border patrol processing centers or its agents to separate children from undocumented parents facing criminal charges for crossing into the U.S. or applying for asylum.
The separating of children from undocumented parents by the border patrol is turning into a profit operation (who's profiting by separating or keeping families together detained indefinitely) for a non-profit that operates a dozen facilities housing undocumented children. After the children are processed at border patrol centers including in McAllen, they are transported to detention facilities operated by the non-profit organization Southwest Key Programs Inc., which will be paid more than $458M in 2018 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, according to TIME. The TIME reported that, "The nonprofit, Southwest Key Programs Inc., is to be paid more than $458 million in fiscal 2018, according to the data — the most among the organizations, government agencies and companies that run a detention and care system for immigrant children on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services. Southwest Key has about a dozen facilities in Texas, including a site at a former WalMart Inc. store in Brownsville that has drawn attention from members of Congress and national news organizations."
ABCNEWS reported that it cost about $700 to house a child per day in a facility run by Southwest Key.
Dr. Juan Jose Sanchez, the President and CEO of Southwest Key made $1.47M in salary in 2017 (IRS info), doubling his salary from 2016. Southwest Key operates 83 detention centers/shelters/schools around the country and his wife Jennifer Nelson listed as Vice-president in the latest tax filing made $260,000. In the last ten years, Southwest Key has been paid $1.5B under government contracts, CNN reported.
Trump has approved for U.S. military bases to setup concentration (internment) camps that would incarcerate more than 20,000 children from undocumented parents and today, there are 2,500 children that have been separated from their parents. Reports by immigration officials have confirmed that some children have been lost in the process and don't know where they are, which many detained undocumented children aren't expected to rejoin their families.
To deport an undocumented immigrant, it costs an estimated $13K each. According to a 2015 report by the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, Private Prison Corporations (PPC's) earned $3B for holding ICE detainees. An estimated 34,000 of undocumented immigrants are incarcerated daily costing between $159 to $200 each to hold in a private prison.
States do pay for most of the costs to hold undocumented detainees from their jurisdictions and the federal government reimburse the states about half.
A national day of action against separating children is planned for June 30 around the country, according to organizers.
The organizing groups included, National Domestic Workers Alliance, United We Dream, ACLU, America's Voice, People's Action, Women's Refugee Commission, Faith in Action, Fuerza del Valle, LUPE (La Unión Del Pueblo Entero), and Neta.


Images released by the Ursula U.S. Border Patrol Processing Center that were taken during the Father's Day vigil and reporters covering the vigil outside were allowed a tour of the facility.



Friday, June 15, 2018

U.S. Permanent Resident Waheba Issa Dais From Israel Charged With Attempting To Provide Material Support To ISIS

Dais attempted to provide services, personnel, expert advice and assistance to ISIS, by promoting an ISIS's agenda.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 15, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - On Wednesday, Waheba Issa Dais, 45, originally of Israel and a U.S. legal permanent resident residing in Cudahy, Wisconsin, was taken into custody by the FBI and charged in a federal criminal complaint. Dais was charged with attempting to provide material support or resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization., according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Milwaukee.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney Matthew Krueger for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Special Agent in Charge Justin Tolomeo of the FBI's Milwaukee Division provided information and details of the indictment filed against Dais.
According to the criminal complaint, beginning in at least January, Dais attempted to provide services, personnel, expert advice and assistance to ISIS, by promoting ISIS's agenda, facilitating recruitment and maintaining a virtual library of instructions on how to make bombs, biological weapons, poisons and suicide vests to assist self-proclaimed ISIS members and supporters in their attack planning.  Dais used multiple social media accounts that she hacked and took over from unwitting victims and private social media platforms to provide and facilitate her support.  Dais used one of her pro-ISIS accounts to encourage an individual, whom she believed to be an ISIS supporter, to conduct an attack in the name of ISIS.  She provided detailed instructions on how to make Ricin and then suggested the individual introduce the Ricin to a government post or water reservoirs.  In another post, she suggested potential targets for bombing attacks, including street festivals and celebrations in the summer.
Dais appeared before a federal magistrate judge on the charges on June 13, the same day she was arrested.
Dais is facing a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years on a federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00, if convicted. Dais's U.S. Permanent Resident status will be revoked upon conviction and will be deported after serving her sentence.
This case was investigated by the FBI Milwaukee Division's Joint Terrorism Task Force.  The government's is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, with assistance from Trial Attorney Jolie F. Zimmerman of the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section.

Thursday, June 14, 2018

Couple Killed In Motorcycle Accident At I-794 & W. Oklahoma Ave. In Milwaukee

The driver of a motorcycle and his female passenger were reported killed when it struck a median GM traffic barrier and post.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 14, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - On Wednesday, Jason Tiller, 39, and Shameka Calhoun, 38, both from Milwaukee were reported killed in a motorcycle accident just after 10:p.m. on highway I-794 northbound at W. Oklahoma Ave. Tiller who was driving the motorcycle accompanied by Calhoun entered the freeway on Oklahoma Ave. with a group of other motorcycle drivers at a high rate of speed, according to witnesses. Tiller then failed to negotiate a curve south of S. Carferry Drive, lost control and struck and rode the median GM traffic barrier until it struck a post causing for both Tiller and his passenger, Calhoun to be thrown from the motorcycle. The motorcycle continued upright for 1/10 of a mile and stopped in the upright position.
Good Samaritans stopped to render aid and CPR. One of the victims was to injured to get CPR and the other victim received CPR. Milwaukee County Sheriff deputies arrived and also attempted to apply CPR, but attempts failed. Tiller was pronounced deceased at the scene at 10:12 p.m. by a Milwaukee Fire Department rescue unit and Calhoun was transported to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office where she was pronounced deceased at 10:29 p.m., according to the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office (MCSO).
The MCSO says that family members of the victims came to the scene, but were escorted to a nearby park.
Milwaukee police officers also assisted with traffic control at Oklahoma Ave. and the freeway was reopened at 2:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Freshwater For Life Action Coalition Seeks Milwaukee County D.A.'s Office Investigation Into State Law Violations By The City's Lead Program

A DHS report confirmed that state laws were violated by the City's Lead Program.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 12, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - On Tuesday, the Freshwater for Life Action Coalition (FLAC) in a press release announced that they will meet with District Attorney John Chisholm on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. at District Attorney John Chisholm's office to make a formal request for the Public Integrity Unit to investigate violations of state statutes by the City of Milwaukee Health Department's Childhood Lead Poison Prevention Program (CLPPP).
"The recent release of the State of Wisconsin DHS report clearly states that state laws have been broken. FLAC is formally registering a complaint  with District Attorney John Chisholm and is requesting that his Public Integrity Unit initiate an investigation to determine which laws were broken", said Robert Miranda, FLAC spokesperson.

Ladell Harrison Charged With The Death Of Milwaukee Police Officer Charles Irvine Jr.

Harrison was charged with multiple drug violations, eluding police and causing the death of Milwaukee Police Officer Irvine Jr.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 12, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - On Tuesday, Ladell Harrison, 28, was charged with 11 felony counts and one misdemeanor count for drug charges and causing the death of Milwaukee Police Officer Charles Irvine Jr., 23, on June 7th and injuring Milwaukee Police Officer Matthew Schulze, 36. Ladell  was charged with the following;

1. Manufacture/Deliver Heroin (<3g), Felony & as a Party to a Crime

2. Manufacture/Deliver Cocaine (>1-5g), Felony & as a Party to a Crime

3. Manufacture/Deliver Cocaine (>1-5g), Felony

4. Manufacture/Deliver Heroin (<3g), Felony

5. Manuf/Deliver Schedule I, II Narcotics, Felony

6. Operator Flee/Elude Officer - Death, Felony

7. Operator Flee/Elude Officer-Bodily Harm or Property Damage, Felony

8. Knowingly Operating While Revoked (Cause Death), Felony

9. Bail Jumping-Misdemeanor A

10. 1st-Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety, Felony

11. 1st-Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety, Felony

12. Attempting to Flee or Elude an Officer, Felony I, and if convicted on all charges, Ladell is facing life in prison. A 750,000 cast bail was set for Ladell. He pleaded not guilty and is expected back in court for a preliminary hearing on June 22.

According to the criminal complaint, Ladell, the driver was fleeing in a Sedan from police and believed police would not chase him. Officer Schulze reached 96.3 miles-per-hour driving the police squad and pursuing Ladell who was driving a bit faster when Schulze lost control and crash, which the impact caused the police squad to flip about 20 times ending upside down. 
Ladell along with another male and a female were arrested by police shortly after Officers Schulze and Irvine crashed. Irvine died from his injuries and Schulze survived and was released from the hospital.
Ladell told police that he had his 5-year-old son in the vehicle with him when being chased by police and he also had a firearm. Ladell is a convicted felon.
Ladell was under investigation for selling heroin and in connection with an overdosed case in 2017 involving a woman who died, according to the criminal complaint.
In 2017, the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission approved for police officers to pursue drivers fleeing police for nonviolent offenses.


Undocumented Franco Ferreyra Facing Deportation After Being Charged With Driving Without A License In Waukesha County

Ferreyra was cited for driving without a license after a traffic stop for having a tail out in Waukesha County.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 12, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - On Monday, undocumented immigrant Franco Ferreyra, 29, of Waukesha who is originally from Argentina was taken into custody after meeting with an immigration officer. Ferreyra is now being held at the Dodge County jail and is facing deportation without bond or facing an immigration judge. Because in 2001 at the age of 13, he entered the U.S. under a Visa waiver, which only allowed him to visit for 90 days and if he failed to exit the U.S., he would forfeit any bond and an immigration hearing in front of a judge, but would be subject for deportation, according to the Visa waiver conditions.
Ferreyra in 2013 was arrested for driving under the influence and four months ago, he was cited for driving without a license. The latest incident was brought to the focus of ICE after Ferreyra appeared at a Waukesha County court hearing to face the charge for driving without a license, which is a civil forfeiture under Wisconsin state statues. 
Ferreyra was stopped by police for having a tail light out and was cited for driving without a license.
Ferreyra went to the U.S. Citzenship and Immigration Services Office (CIS) on Monday with his lawyer when he was taken into custody by ICE. Ferreyra's immigration attorney, Matthew Luening filed for asylum and a temporary work permit, but both are pending.
During a press conference on Tuesday held by his family in front of the CIS office in Milwaukee, they called for his release. Luening confirmed that Ferreyra was able to get a driver's license and that he believes Ferreyra is eligible to apply for DACA status. He also said, that ICE went to Ferreyra's home and his work place looking for him after he appeared in court for driving without a license.
ICE released the following statement about Ferreyra's immigration case, "Franco Damian Ferreyra, 29, is a citizen of Argentina who overstayed his temporary visit to the United States by more than 16 years.
"On June 11, 2018, deportation officers with U.S.Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Ferreyra during a routine check-in at the ICE ERO office in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
"On Dec. 21, 2001, Ferreryra legally entered the U.S. from Argentina on the Visa Waiver Program, which expired before April 2002.
"Ferreryra was arrested by ICE on Feb. 7, 2018, and ordered removed administratively, pursuant to the terms of his admission under the Visa Waiver Program. He was released on an order of supervision the same day. ICE re-arrested him on June 11, 2018, and he is currently in ICE custody pending removal from the United States."
Ferreyra has for 4 children.
Voces de la Frontera who sharé the press conference with Ferreyra's family says, that they have posted an online petition on their Facebook account asking for Ferreyra's release from ICE custody.

Monday, June 11, 2018

Sunday's Taquiza Fundraiser For Guatemala In Milwaukee Raised $20,308.70

Milwaukee's taquerias and local businesses held a one day fundraiser for the victims of Guatemala on Sunday in the Southside.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 11, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - On Sunday night, the organizers of Sunday's Taquiza Por Guatemala in Milwaukee's Southside confirmed that they raised $20,308.70, despite the 57° (real feel 49°) temperature and rainy/drizzle day, which didn't keep people from stopping at the Taquiza to contribute and buy tacos and food including beverages to benefit the victims of Guatemala's Volcano de Fuego eruption that claimed more than 80 lives. 
The Taquiza Por Guatemala was held at the PNC Bank parking lot on S. 16th Street and W. National Ave. from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Milwaukee.
The donations generated will be turned over to the local American Red Cross to help provide aid for the victims of Guatemala, according to the Taquiza organizers.

Click to watch: Taquiza Por Guatemala video

Some of the participants in La Taquiza Por Guatemala 2018 were:

• Taqueria El Cabrito
• Restaurante Fiesta Garibaldi 
• Taqueria El Chariton
• Jose Lozoya del National Mufller and National Liquors 
• Berta's Tamales
• Marta's Tamales
• Taqueria Don Panchos
• Taqueria Buena Vista
• Taqueria El Toro
• Carnicería Hacienda
• Quiles Distribution
• Familia Salas 
• Jalisco Restaurant
• JC King Tortas
and others.

Also the following Latino media outlets were involved:

• La GranD 104.7 FM Radio
• Telemundo Wisconsin
• TV Azteca Wisconsin 38
• Radio Caliente 97.9 FM 

Also Hugo L. Alarcón from H Tax Accounting, LLC donated his services.

In September 2017, some of the same taquerias and businesses held a 2-day Taquiza for the victims of Puerto Rico's Hurricane Maria and victims for Mexico's earthquake disasters, which raised $33,618 and the donations were divided between both Puerto Rico and Mexico's relief fund. The donations raised were turned in to the local American Red Cross as well.


U.S. Citizens Told Trump's U.S. Border Patrol Agents To "Get The F_ck Out Here" When Being Harassed By Agents After An ICE Detention Center Protest In Otay Mesa



U.S. Citizens and protesters in a video claimed that they were harassed after attending a protest by U.S. Border Patrol agents and they belittled the agents with derogatory remarks and even displayed the bird (middle finger) to them.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 10, 2018

San Diego, CA - On Sunday, multiple U.S. Citizens and protesters who attended a rally and protest in the neighborhood of Otay Mesa in San Diego to protest against an Immigration and Customs Enforcement  (ICE) center located in the vicinity where children have been separated from their parents and undocumented immigrants are being processed for misdemeanor crimes after entering the U.S. illegally. Apparently, after the rally and protest at the Otay Mesa Detention Center-ICE some of those people attending were followed to a local gas station and restaurant by border patrol agents, which the U.S. Citizens claimed they were being harassed and U.S. Border Patrol agents called for backup, which more than ten other agents showed up. 
The agents faced ridicule and adult language criticising their jobs as "sell outs", which one of the protesters even displayed the bird (middle finger) to the border patrol agents at the scene. One of the agents was told that he wasn't a police officer and all he could do is ask for citizenship. The agents had no choice after the repeated verbal attacks, but to leave, according to the videos posted on Facebook by Francisco Mendoza. 
It sure sends out a strong message to Americans around the nation who are frustrated with the illegal acts committed by rogue ICE and border patrol agents, that this is how you stand up against Trump's Gestapo type of border patrol and ICE agents.
The U.S. Citizens in the videos shouted at the agents to "get the f_ck out" of there and began to call them other derogatory names. It seems that the U.S. Border Patrol and ICE agents have lost respect from U.S. Citizens since Trump's policies took effect to separate the children from undocumented parents and information from the ACLU exposed that the children were being sexually, mentally and physically harassed by agents while being detained in ICE centers. Also, that more than 5,000 children of undocumented parents were unaccounted for and no record was kept to locate them, no  records are kept of families and children being separated or if they were ever reunited with their parents, once they were deported.
Trump's immigration policy to separate children from their undocumented families is similar to what Hitler and the Nazis did in Germany to the Jewish population.
ICE and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agencies have come to be known as the most corrupt agencies within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 

Sunday, June 10, 2018

Memphis Police Arrested And Charged Leimome Cheeks For Transporting Two Girls In Pet Kennels After Video Goes Viral



62-year-old woman arrested and charged for transporting two girls in pet kennels.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 10, 2018

Memphis, TN - On Sunday, the Memphis Police Department (MPD) released the following statement that, "Many have inquired about a viral video from Saturday that shows two children being transported in pet kennels in the 3700 block of Elvis Presley Blvd.
"Leimome Cheeks, 62, was arrested and charged with two counts of Child Endangerment."
The video was share in Facebook by many users, according to the MPD.


Saturday, June 9, 2018

Fire and Police Commission Approval Of Pursuit Policy For Nonviolent Offenses Has Inadvertently Cost The Life Of Milwaukee Police Officer Charles G. Irvine Jr.

A high pursuit chase by police of a reckless driver resulted in a roll over crash of a police squad car claiming the life of Milwaukee Police Officer Irvine Jr. who was the passenger (partner) of Officer Schulze who was driving and lost control of their police vehicle.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 9, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - On Saturday, Milwaukee Police Officer Matthew Schulze, 36, the driver of the police squad that lost control and rolled over in a crash claiming the life of his partner, Milwaukee Police Officer Charles G. Irvine Jr., 23, has been released from the hospital. Officer Schulze and Officer Irvine were in pursuit of a reckless driver on Thursday who failed to stop, when they got into an accident. The reckless driver of the fleeing vehicle was later stopped by other officers and three suspects, two males and one female were taken into custody pending criminal charges.
It is not clear, nor information has been made available, if both Schulze and Irvine were wearing their seatbelts. Police squad cars usually don't come equipped with roll over bars to protect officers involved in such crashes and roll overs.
Last year, the Fire and Police Commission (F&PC) approved for Milwaukee Police officers to engage in pursuits for nonviolent crimes and also in 2017, 13 members of the Milwaukee Common Council including Alderman Robert "Bob" Donovan advocated and supported less restrictions for police pursuits due the high rate of vehicles stolen and carjackings by teenagers and who flee from police to avoid arrests. 
Previously under former Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn, officers could stop pursuing alleged fleeing vehicles that were involved in certain traffic violations, if it would endanger the lives of pedestrian and other motorists. Flynn changed the Milwaukee Police Department's pursuit police in 2010 when 4 people were killed by a fleeing drivers chased by police. In 2015, the restricted pursuit policy included stolen vehicles and carjackings, which officers were limited to engage in a pursuit unless they had probable cause that those in the fleeing vehicle committed a violent crime or felony.
Officer Irvine has become the first police officer to die in the line of duty in 22 years in the City of Milwaukee and the first officer to be killed as a result of a pursuit, since the policy was changed last year to allow officers to continue to pursue drivers who commit certain traffic violations or driving stolen vehicles and fleeing from officers. 
In July 2017, the F&PC directed former Chief Flynn to place less restrictions on pursuits (chases). In September 2017, the F&PC approved a new pursuit policy that allowed officers to chase fleeing drivers for nonviolent offenses.
Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales has not taken a position on the current pursuit policy with less restrictions, but faced questions in regards to the current pursuit policy. Did Officer Schulze had an option to stop the pursuit, which could have prevented the deadly crash and death of Officer Irvine?
In an update, Chief Morales during a press conference on Friday released the following information, Around 5:00 p.m. on June 7, the officers were on duty with Officer Schulze driving and Officer Irvine the passenger. They saw a reckless vehicle being driven eastbound on W. Silver Spring Drive near N. 91st Street.
This vehicle was a Volkswagen Passat. The officers attempted to stop this vehicle by activating the squad's lights and sirens. The Passat did not pull over and began to elude officers, at which time a pursuit began. As the Passat approached 76th Street, the squad car lost control and rolled over.
MPD Members located the Passat in the 9400 block of W. Bradley Road. Its driver, a 28-year-old man, was taken into custody. He has a lengthy criminal record dating back to 2006 with several drug-related arrests.
Two associates of the suspect, a 45-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman, were also taken into custody and interviews with all three continue. The case will be presented to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office in the coming days for a review of charges.
During the press conference, Chief Morales told reporters that he would take several questions. But when a female reporter asked Morales about the pursuit policy, "Can you tell us if a Sergeant or someone had called off this chase prior to the accident?"
Chief Morales responded, "We have an officer that died yesterday. We are grieving and you all are trying to create controversy. We have an officer that died committed to the community. All he wanted to do was be a police officer and we loved him, could you give us some days to grieve, please."
Morales claimed that the reporter was trying to create some controversy in regards to the pursuit policy. His response has gone viral on the social networks and mainstream media.

Friday, June 8, 2018

Milwaukee Police Officer Charles G. Irvine Jr. Passed Away From Injuries Suffered In Squad Car Crash During Pursuit Of A Reckless Driver

Milwaukee Police Officer Irvine Jr. died after a crash and rollover accident while on duty and his partner, Officer Schulze is in stable condition.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 8, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - On Thursday, Milwaukee Police Officer Charles G. Irvine Jr., 23, lost his life while on duty and as a result of a crash and rollover accident. Both Officer Irvine Jr. and his partner, Officer Matthew Schulze were transported to Froedtert Hospital where Irvine Jr. was later pronounced deceased. Officer Schulze is in stable condition and is expected to be released from the hospital, according to the Milwaukee Police Department.
Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales on Thursday during a press conference released the following statement regarding the June 7 death of fallen Officer Charles G. Irvine Jr., "It is with great sadness that I stand before you today as the Chief of the Milwaukee Police Department and announce the death of one of our own, 23-year-old Police Officer Charles Irvine Junior of District Four.
"This is the information that I have been presented with so far.
"Today at approximately 5:00 p.m., Officer Irvine and his partner were involved in the pursuit of a reckless vehicle at which time the squad crashed near N. 76th  Street and W. Silver Spring Drive. At this time it appears the squad was the only vehicle involved in the crash.  The officers were transported to Froedtert Hospital with serious injuries. Officer Irvine died as a result of his injuries despite the heroic and lifesaving measures of the Milwaukee Fire Department and the medical team at Froedtert.
"Officer Irvine has been with the department for approximately four years.  He began his service with the Milwaukee Police Department at the age of 19 and became a police officer at the age of 21.  The other officer is in stable condition and is a 36-year-old man with four years of service."
Officer Irvine Jr.'s body was escorted by dozens of fellow police officers in squads from the hospital to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office.
Officer Irvine Jr. is the first officer to died while on duty in the last 22 years.
At this time, no information has released regarding the vehicle that was being pursued for reckless driving by Officer Irvine Jr. and his partner.



Thursday, June 7, 2018

11 Suspects Arrested For Felony Possession & Distribution Of Child Pornography In Polk County, FL

11 suspects taken into custody for child pornography related charges in Polk County.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 7, 2018

Winter Haven, Florida - The Polk County Sheriff's Office released the following press release, throughout the month of May 2018, Polk County Sheriff's Computer Crimes detectives served search warrants and made 11 arrests during "Operation Guardians of Innocence II" which focused on identifying and arresting those involved in the possession, promotion, and distribution of child pornography. A total of 660 felony charges were filed against the suspects, with more charges pending.
Sheriff Grady Judd stated, "As you know, this is just the beginning - once we serve search warrants and seize the devices that these suspects are using to download and distribute pornography, we will do a complete forensic analysis, and in all likelihood we will be adding on more charges related to the felony possession and distribution of images and videos of children being sexually battered. Most of the images we saw during this investigation depicted children being sexually battered, that we have seen before - which means we haven't yet identified any local child victims, but as always, that is also a part of our investigation."
According to Sheriff Judd, a search warrant was executed at 126 Grantham Drive in Davenport, where 48-year-old Edward Zaborowski III lives. Detectives received a tip that child pornography files were being advertised by a computer user at that address. Detectives responded to the home and talked with Zaborowski, who admitted that the computer equipment was his. During an initial preview of the equipment, detectives located files depicting child pornography with victims as young as 4 to 6 years old. They seized the equipment for further analysis. Zaborowski told detectives he searches for and downloads child pornography, and has done so for the past two years. He told detectives he is a bartender in Osceola County, and a parent helper and driver for his son's Boy Scout Troop. He was taken into custody without incident and charged with:

• 64 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)

• 1 count promotion of sexual performance by a child (F-2)

A search warrant was executed at 3518 Sutton Hills Drive North in Lakeland, where 64-year-old Richard Cousins lives. Detectives received a tip that child pornography files were being downloaded by a computer user at that address. Detectives responded to the home and, during an initial preview of the equipment, located files depicting child pornography with victims as young as 8 to 10 years old. He told detectives he is married. They seized the equipment for further analysis. Cousins was taken into custody without incident and charged with:

• 143 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)

• 3 counts promotion of sexual performance by a child (F-2)

Cousins is a registered sex offender. He was arrested in 1992 in Maine for sexual assault on two male victims under 13 years of age, for which he was sentenced to two years in prison for each victim (4 years total); his sentence was reduced to one year in prison, and 4 years' probation.

A search warrant was executed at 103 Brighton Way in Auburndale, where 51-year-old Bruce Nopper lives. Detectives received a tip that child pornography files were being advertised by a computer user at that address. Detectives responded to the home and talked with Nopper, who admitted that the computer equipment was his and that he is addicted to viewing child pornography. During an initial preview of the equipment, detectives located files depicting child pornography with victims as young as 4 to 6 years old. His girlfriend told detectives she previously found disturbing images on his computer, and destroyed the hard drive with bleach and a sledgehammer. They seized the equipment for further analysis. He was taken into custody without incident and charged with:

• 12 counts possession of child pornography (F-3)

• 1 count promotion of sexual performance by a child (F-2)

A search warrant was executed at 335 Madison Circle in Davenport, where 30-year-old Rickie Vargas-Garcia lives. Detectives received a tip that child pornography files were being downloaded by a computer user at that address. Detectives responded to the home and talked with Vargas-Garcia, who admitted that the computer equipment was his and that he trades and views child pornography, and solicits female juveniles online to send him nude photos and videos of themselves. He said he tells juveniles online that he is 18 years old. He said the youngest female he communicated and shared nude photos with was 11 years old. During an initial preview of the equipment, detectives located files depicting child pornography with victims as young as 3 to 5 years old. He told detectives he's a Lego builder for Merlin Entertainment. They seized the equipment for further analysis. He was taken into custody without incident and charged with:

• 10 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)

Vargas-Garcia was arrested in 2008 in Virginia for DUI.

A search warrant was executed at 388 Toledo Road in Davenport, where 84-year-old Don Carrier lives. Detectives received a tip that child pornography files were being advertised by a computer user at that address. Detectives responded to the home and talked with Carrier, who admitted that the computer equipment was his and that he has been viewing child pornography for several years - he waits for his wife to leave the house and then watches it. During an initial preview of the equipment, detectives located files depicting child pornography with victims as young as 3 years old. They seized the equipment for further analysis. He was taken into custody without incident and charged with:

• 200 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)

A search warrant was executed at 821 Corvina Drive in Davenport, where 53-year-old Roger Catey lives. Detectives received a tip that child pornography files were being downloaded by a computer user at that address. Detectives responded to the home and talked with Catey, who admitted that the computer equipment was his and that he has been viewing child pornography for approximately one year. During an initial preview of the equipment, detectives located files depicting child pornography with victims as young as 3 years old. They seized the equipment for further analysis. He told detectives he is employed at Walt Disney World as a project manager in the costumes department. He was taken into custody without incident and charged with:

• 24 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)

• 2 counts promotion of sexual performance by a child (F-2)

A search warrant was executed at 3218 Crystal Hills Drive in Lakeland, where 35-year-old Mathew Sentz lives. Detectives received a tip that child pornography files were being downloaded by a computer user at that address. Detectives responded to the home and talked with Sentz, who admitted that the computer equipment was his and that he has been viewing child pornography for approximately one year. During an initial preview of the equipment, detectives located files depicting child pornography with victims as young as 2 to 4 years old. They seized the equipment for further analysis. He was taken into custody without incident and charged with:

• 100 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)

Sentz is a registered sex offender. He was arrested in Illinois 2000 for possession of child pornography when he was 17 years old, and he was sentenced to & spent 3 years in prison, 30 months' worth of probation and 200 hours of public service. He was arrested by Lakeland P.D. in 2009 for failure to register as a sex offender.

A search warrant was executed at 512 Fawn Place in Lakeland, where 24-year-old Jarrod Whiting lives. Detectives received a tip that child pornography files were being downloaded by a computer user at that address. Detectives responded to the home and talked with Whiting, who admitted that the computer equipment was his and that he has been viewing child pornography for "a while." He admitted to viewing images depicting children as young as infants. During an initial preview of the equipment, detectives located files depicting child pornography with victims as young as 4 years old. They seized the equipment for further analysis. He was taken into custody without incident and charged with:

• 14 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)

A search warrant was executed at 4110 Poinsettia Drive in Mulberry, where 20-year-old Alejandro Baltazar II lives. Detectives received a tip that child pornography files were being downloaded by a computer user at that address. Detectives responded to the home and talked with Baltazar, who told detectives he's been viewing child pornography for the past two years. During an initial preview of the equipment, detectives located files depicting child pornography with victims as young as 2 years old. They seized the equipment for further analysis. He told detectives he's a Hillsborough Community College student. He was taken into custody without incident and charged with:

• 55 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)

A search warrant was executed at 838 Lake Cummings Blvd in Lake Alfred, where 69-year-old Donald Marich lives. Detectives received a tip that child pornography files were being downloaded by a computer user at that address. Detectives responded to the home and talked with Marich, who denied downloading child pornography. During an initial preview of the equipment, detectives located files depicting child pornography. He told detectives he is a retired schoolteacher from Maricopa County, Arizona, and that he lives alone but is a Disney annual pass holder and frequently attends the theme park alone. They seized the equipment for further analysis. He was taken into custody without incident and charged with:

• 16 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2)

• 3 counts promotion of child pornography (F-2)

And, a search warrant was executed at 602 Musrkat Drive in Kissimmee, where 16-year-old Zachary Ramirez lives. Detectives received a NCMEC tip that child pornography files were being downloaded to a Dropbox account. Detectives responded to the home and talked with his parents, and then responded to Haines City High School to talk to the suspect. He admitted to viewing images depicting children as young as infants. During an initial preview of his cell phone, detectives located files depicting child pornography with victims as young as 12-24 months old. They seized the equipment for further analysis. He was taken into custody without incident and charged with:

• 12 counts possession of child pornography - enhanced (F-2).