Brian Terry family sues officials over Fast and Furious
[Politico.com]
PHOENIX — The family of a slain Border Patrol agent has sued federal officials over the botched “Fast and Furious” gun operation.
Agent Brian Terry was mortally wounded on Dec. 14, 2010, in a firefight north of the Arizona-Mexico border between border agents and five men who had sneaked into the country to rob marijuana smugglers.
Two assault rifles acquired by a straw buyer for the gun smuggling ring targeted in the “Fast and Furious” operation were found in the aftermath of the shootout near Nogales.
Federal authorities conducting “Fast and Furious” have faced tough criticism for allowing suspected straw gun buyers for the ring to walk away from gun shops in Arizona with weapons, rather than arrest them and seize weapons.
The investigation was launched in 2009 to catch trafficking kingpins, but agents lost track of about 1,400 of the more than 2,000 weapons involved.
(more…)
HSBC Aided Money-Laundering by Iran, Drug Cartels, Probe Shows
[Newsmax.com]
Monday, 16 Jul 2012 05:56 PM
HSBC Holdings Plc did business with firms linked to terrorism, let money-laundering safeguards in its Mexico operations erode, and circumvented U.S. sanctions against Iran, according to U.S. Senate investigators.
The Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations released a 335-page report today detailing a decade of lax controls that allowed HSBC, Europe’s largest bank, and its affiliates around the world to give terrorists, drug cartels, and other criminals a portal into the U.S. financial system. Lawmakers plan to question senior executives from Europe’s largest bank at a hearing in Washington tomorrow.
“HSBC used its U.S. bank as a gateway into the U.S. financial system for some HSBC affiliates around the world to provide U.S. dollar services to clients while playing fast and loose with U.S. banking rules,” said Sen. Carl Levin, the Michigan Democrat who heads the subcommittee. “The failure of accountability here is dramatic.”
U.S. Border Patrol Agents in ‘Firefight’ With Mexican Gang
FoxNews.com | AP
Published September 14, 2010
AFP – July 28: A U.S. Border Patrol vehicle drives along the fence separating the U.S. from Mexico, near Nogales, Sonora, Mexico.
SAN ANTONIO — U.S. Border Patrol agents fired gunshots into Mexico after coming under attack during a half-ton drug bust and giving chase to a truck along the Rio Grande, U.S. authorities said Monday.
No Border Patrol agents were hurt during the “fire fight” early Saturday in Mission, agency spokeswoman Rosalinda Huey said. She did not say whether Border Patrol gunfire hit anyone, citing the ongoing investigation.
“The firing they received came from the Mexican side,” Huey said.
Huey said several Border Patrol agents, at least some of whom were patrolling in boats, were seizing a half-ton of marijuana when they came under gunfire. Federal officials said the shots from Mexico began when a truck that was being chased by another group of Border Patrol agents entered the area.
FBI special agent Jorge Cisneros said the truck, which was on the U.S. side, appeared to be connected to the drug seizure. He said the gunfire from Mexico was a “direct result” of Border Patrol agents doing their jobs.
Arizona’s Immigration Law Supporters Find Solace in Remaining Provisions
FoxNews.com
Published July 28, 2010
Federal police officers stand outside the grounds of the Sandra Day O’Connor Court House Wednesday, July 28, 2010 in Phoenix moments after portions of Arizona’s new immigration law, SB1070, was blocked by a Federal Judge. (AP)
While opponents of Arizona’s strict immigration law are claiming victory in a federal ruling Wednesday that blocked most of the crackdown hours before its enactment, there’s still plenty left in the state legislation that supporters are cheering.
As the case is litigated, Arizona will be able to block state officials from so-called “sanctuary city” policies limiting enforcement of federal law; require that state officials work with federal officials on illegal immigration; allow civil suits over sanctuary cities; and to make it a crime to pick up day laborers.
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