TIJUANA BC (El Mexicano, Rafael Morales Magana, 5/22/11) - Agents of the State Preventive Police (PEP) captured Francisco Antonio Castellanos, alias "El Blackie", who was wanted by the American justice for crimes against health, the Ministry of Public Security of the State (SSPE) reported yesterday. The capture was made possible by the exchange of information between State officers attached international liaisons with their counterparts in Yuma, Arizona. The suspect, 19, a native of San Diego, California was arrested in Los Algodones in the municipality of Mexicali. Castellanos is noted as a significant drug distributor in Yuma County, Arizona. Aware police were looking for him, he decided to flee to Baja California, but only managed to go into hiding for a brief time. SSPE stated excellent coordination between the State PEP and US authorities helped arrest several criminals who escaped from the neighboring country. Within two days, the international liaison of the PEP also captured a wanted man for burning his girlfriend and his father-in-law, and now "El Blackie".
TIJUANA BC (SanDiegoRed, Pablo Jaime Sáinz, 5/19/11) - A short documentary that portrays the life of the family of an immigrant who died after having been beaten by agents of the U.S. border patrol in the San Ysidro entry last year was presented on Friday by a community group. The documentary is about how the death of Anastasius Hernández has affected his family since he was assassinated on May 28, 2010. The presentation of the video was this Friday, May 20, at 6:30 p.m. at the American Friends Service Committee offices, located in the 3275 Market St., Suite B, San Diego. The video was part of the monthly series "Cinema en el Barrio", whose purpose is to "help raise awareness to our community using films to create dialogue, a call to organize ourselves", said Enrique de la Cruz, spokesman for the Zapatista Collective, the community agency responsible for the film series. The documentary was produced by the Committee on Human Rights of City Heights and lasted 18 minutes. Testimony was heard from relatives of Hernandez, whose death caused great consternation. A video of the beating of Hernández at the hands of some 20 officers of the border patrol was recorded with a camera phone at the San Ysidro entry. It has been very popular on sites such as YouTube. "Is important for us that our community get to know the case of the death of Anastasius Hernández", said De la Cruz. "What has happened to him, has happened to many of our people and could continue happening if a united voice of people is not lifted." Hernandez, 42, was a construction worker and father of five children. He lived in the United States for more than 20 years before being deported. An autopsy by the Forensic Medical Service of San Diego County determined Hernandez died of a heart attack. The report indicated he had methamphetamines in his system. In addition to being beaten up, Hernandez received several electrical discharges from a Taser gun. Currently, his sudden death is being investigated by the Department of Justice's Division of Civil Rights.
TIJUANA BC (SanDiegoRed, Leonel Sanchez, 5/20/11) – An extended weekend schedule for the fast line Ready Lane at the port of Otay Mesa will begin on Saturday due to high demand for the service, reported Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Thursday. Travelers who use the special lane, which opened more than two weeks ago, can decrease their wait to cross from Tijuana to San Diego a minimum of 20 minutes compared with users of regular lanes at the same port. The lane is reserved for people with certain types of US passports that allow easier and faster inspections. Documents authorized for the use of this lane are new US passports and laser Visas issued after 2008, the new Residence Cards and the North American "Green card". These cards contain radio frequency identification (RFID), wireless technology that can be read from a maximum of 30 feet away, which allows a faster traveler processing. The lane will now open from 8 am until midnight on Saturdays and Sundays, starting May 21. It previously closed at 10 pm. The Monday to Friday schedule will remain the same: 4 am to 8 pm. On Memorial Day (Monday, May 30), the lane will be open from 8 am until midnight. "We are keeping the Otay Mesa lane open until later in response to the growing demand, and we hope these shorter waiting times persuade others to get a document RFID," said Chris Maston, Director of Field Operations of CBP in San Diego, he said in a statement. The lane is located on the western edge of traffic routes, around a third of a mile before the Otay Mesa border. Steps to use the ready lane: -Stop at the beginning of the track and make sure that each passenger is listed on your cards. -When you receive the signal, slowly drive in the lane and show the cards face up in the side of the driver of the vehicle. -Stop at the official and be prepared to show your documents. -To use this lane to all occupants of the vehicle must be over 16-years-old and allowed travel cards. -Watch the video provided by the CBP to help understand functioning of this lane. -For more information in Spanish about the ready lane visit: www.getyouhome.gov
TIJUANA BC (El Mexicano, Rafael Morales Magana, 5/22/11) - Agents of the State Preventive Police (PEP) captured Francisco Antonio Castellanos, alias "El Blackie", who was wanted by the American justice for crimes against health, the Ministry of Public Security of the State (SSPE) reported yesterday. The capture was made possible by the exchange of information between State officers attached international liaisons with their counterparts in Yuma, Arizona. The suspect, 19, a native of San Diego, California was arrested in Los Algodones in the municipality of Mexicali. Castellanos is noted as a significant drug distributor in Yuma County, Arizona. Aware police were looking for him, he decided to flee to Baja California, but only managed to go into hiding for a brief time. SSPE stated excellent coordination between the State PEP and US authorities helped arrest several criminals who escaped from the neighboring country. Within two days, the international liaison of the PEP also captured a wanted man for burning his girlfriend and his father-in-law, and now "El Blackie".
TIJUANA BC (SanDiegoRed, Pablo Jaime Sáinz, 5/19/11) - A short documentary that portrays the life of the family of an immigrant who died after having been beaten by agents of the U.S. border patrol in the San Ysidro entry last year was presented on Friday by a community group. The documentary is about how the death of Anastasius Hernández has affected his family since he was assassinated on May 28, 2010. The presentation of the video was this Friday, May 20, at 6:30 p.m. at the American Friends Service Committee offices, located in the 3275 Market St., Suite B, San Diego. The video was part of the monthly series "Cinema en el Barrio", whose purpose is to "help raise awareness to our community using films to create dialogue, a call to organize ourselves", said Enrique de la Cruz, spokesman for the Zapatista Collective, the community agency responsible for the film series. The documentary was produced by the Committee on Human Rights of City Heights and lasted 18 minutes. Testimony was heard from relatives of Hernandez, whose death caused great consternation. A video of the beating of Hernández at the hands of some 20 officers of the border patrol was recorded with a camera phone at the San Ysidro entry. It has been very popular on sites such as YouTube. "Is important for us that our community get to know the case of the death of Anastasius Hernández", said De la Cruz. "What has happened to him, has happened to many of our people and could continue happening if a united voice of people is not lifted." Hernandez, 42, was a construction worker and father of five children. He lived in the United States for more than 20 years before being deported. An autopsy by the Forensic Medical Service of San Diego County determined Hernandez died of a heart attack. The report indicated he had methamphetamines in his system. In addition to being beaten up, Hernandez received several electrical discharges from a Taser gun. Currently, his sudden death is being investigated by the Department of Justice's Division of Civil Rights.
TIJUANA BC (SanDiegoRed, Leonel Sanchez, 5/20/11) – An extended weekend schedule for the fast line Ready Lane at the port of Otay Mesa will begin on Saturday due to high demand for the service, reported Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Thursday. Travelers who use the special lane, which opened more than two weeks ago, can decrease their wait to cross from Tijuana to San Diego a minimum of 20 minutes compared with users of regular lanes at the same port. The lane is reserved for people with certain types of US passports that allow easier and faster inspections. Documents authorized for the use of this lane are new US passports and laser Visas issued after 2008, the new Residence Cards and the North American "Green card". These cards contain radio frequency identification (RFID), wireless technology that can be read from a maximum of 30 feet away, which allows a faster traveler processing. The lane will now open from 8 am until midnight on Saturdays and Sundays, starting May 21. It previously closed at 10 pm. The Monday to Friday schedule will remain the same: 4 am to 8 pm. On Memorial Day (Monday, May 30), the lane will be open from 8 am until midnight. "We are keeping the Otay Mesa lane open until later in response to the growing demand, and we hope these shorter waiting times persuade others to get a document RFID," said Chris Maston, Director of Field Operations of CBP in San Diego, he said in a statement. The lane is located on the western edge of traffic routes, around a third of a mile before the Otay Mesa border. Steps to use the ready lane: -Stop at the beginning of the track and make sure that each passenger is listed on your cards. -When you receive the signal, slowly drive in the lane and show the cards face up in the side of the driver of the vehicle. -Stop at the official and be prepared to show your documents. -To use this lane to all occupants of the vehicle must be over 16-years-old and allowed travel cards. -Watch the video provided by the CBP to help understand functioning of this lane. -For more information in Spanish about the ready lane visit: www.getyouhome.gov