Illegal Alien Smugglers Disguising Themselves as Border Patrol Agents
PILGRIM: Incredible pictures tonight show the lengths to which smugglers will go to violate our nation's immigration laws. Some illegal alien smugglers are now actually disguises themselves as Border Patrol agents. Casey Wian reports.</s>CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It sure looks like the kind of van Border Patrol agents use every day to transport captured illegal aliens. But it's a fake, painted with the border patrol's distinctive green stripes and logo and it was being used by a coyote to transport illegal aliens across the border from Mexico. According to agents in Casa Grande, Arizona, they encountered the 2001 Dodge Van on the Tahona Odem (ph) Indian reservation. After the van's driver spotted the agents, he turned around and tried to drive back into Mexico. He then got out of the van, ran across the border, leaving 30 illegal aliens trapped inside by a metal cage.</s>SHANNON STEVENS, U.S. BORDER PATROL: There was a cage in the back so there was no way for them to get out.</s>WIAN: In San Antonio another bust.</s>FRED HOLLENBACK, IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT: It appears it's a stash house and that people were being staged there to move elsewhere.</s>WIAN: Police acting on a tip about stolen cars found more than 50 illegal aliens trapped in a three-bedroom house without food or water.</s>HOLLENBACK: We have a diverse group, some from other than Mexico and the majority are from Mexico.</s>WIAN: Recent efforts to beef up border security have made smugglers more desperate, ruthless and creative. Even President Bush has take notice. His solution, a temporary worker program.</s>GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It will certainly help stamp out these illegal characters that are exploiting human beings -- these coyotes that stuff people in the back of 18 wheelers for money is just -- that's not in character with how this nation works.</s>WIAN: But it is the reality at the border. In just the past week, agents discovered 17 people sealed in a U-Haul truck in Falfurrias, Texas. Almost a ton of marijuana in a dump truck in Los Barreras, Texas. And in Lordsburg, New Mexico, 1,500 pounds of pot in the floorboard of a livestock trailer. And in San Ysidro, California, an 83 year old woman with 10 pounds of methamphetamine strapped to her body.</s>WIAN: Needless to say, it's been a busy week at the southern border, another reminder that despite some highly publicized efforts by the federal government, that border remains far from secure -- Kitty.</s>PILGRIM: It's unbelievable, Casey. Thanks very much for that report. Well, there are new protests today and strikes that have crippled the Mexican city of Oaxaca in the past four months. Today protesters hijacked buses and forced government workers from their offices. This breaks an agreement earlier in the week for demonstrators to end the occupation of the city. Now the protestors say the local government is corrupt and they are demanding that the governor of Oaxaca step down. President Bush tonight making his support of embattled House Speaker Dennis Hastert very clear. The president is appearing with the speaker at a GOP fundraiser in Chicago.</s>BUSH: Speaker Denny Hastert has a long record of accomplishment. He's not one of these Washington politicians who spews a lot of hot air. He just gets the job done.</s>PILGRIM: That was President Bush appearing with Dennis Hastert. Time now for some of your thoughts. Frank in Florida writes, "As a Democrat I must admit that we deserve the Republican Party - all that it has thrown at us. We have lost a sense of the issues that made Democrats defenders of the middle class and making available education and economic opportunities. We simply have no leadership." And Jack in Florida writes to us on the dangerous food. "Why do we need to create another government agency to check our food? We need to make the one we have, the FDA, do what it's supposed to do." Earl in Florida writes, "Shame on you, of course we need another agency to check our food. There must be at least seven or eight Republican cronies that President Bush still hasn't found a job for." So e-mail us at LouDobbs.com. We have more of your thoughts a little bit later in the broadcast. And each of you whose e-mail is read here will receive a copy of Lou's new book, "War on the Middle Class." As we reported, House Speaker Dennis Hastert tonight is campaigning in Chicago for two Republicans who are facing tough races. Now, our poll question tonight is, would House Speaker Hastert's endorsement of a particular candidate make you more or less inclined to vote for that person? Answer one is more inclined. Less inclined and also the third choice, his support would not affect your vote. Cast your vote at LouDobbs.com. We'll bring you the results a little bit later in the broadcast. And coming up, American casualties in Iraq are rising sharply. What is our strategy in Iraq? Fawaz Gerges, a leading expert on the Middle East will join me. Also, new details about the plane crash that took the life of Cory Lidle and his flight instructor. And just in time for the midterm elections, Lou speaks with Barry Levinson, the director of the new film, "Man of the Year."</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have you given any thought to what the makeup of your Cabinet might be.</s>WILLIAMS: Well, I've always been a big fan of hardwoods like teak or mahogany.</s>PILGRIM: Now the movie is all about a very unlikely presidential candidate and his platform. It's very familiar to viewers of this program. Stay with us.