fran
Former Member
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8516977/
Five American families wiped back tears Friday as they expressed their frustration to U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar over loved ones who went missing after crossing into Nuevo Laredo.
The families gathered at the historic Laredo Federal Building in a long-anticipated meeting organized by Cuellar to hear their concerns.
One by one, family members said efforts by U.S. and Mexican investigators are appreciated but have fallen short. They asked for more FBI agents to work their cases, more intelligence sharing among Mexican and U.S. police and even legislation that would penalize police for not acting quickly enough when missing-persons reports are made.
"There's a lack of urgency that the authorities show when you report a child missing," said William Slemaker of Laredo, whose stepdaughter went missing in Nuevo Laredo 10 months ago. "At times, it's hard to continue our fight, but no matter what obstacles lie in our path, we will persevere in the name of God."
Cuellar, a Laredo Democrat, vowed to continue pressuring the U.S. and Mexican governments to solve their missing-person cases.
Since last August, 41 U.S. citizens have been reported as kidnapped along the Mexican border, he said. Nineteen have been returned, two have been confirmed killed, and 20 remain missing.
Joining Cuellar for Friday's meeting were representatives from the U.S. Consul in Nuevo Laredo, the Webb County Sheriff's Department, the Texas Secretary of State's office, the FBI, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and the U.S. Marshall's Office.
Cuellar told the families he sympathized with them and has told President Bush about the kidnapping problem and urged him to invest more resources. As a result, he said, Mexico's federal government has begun to respond with beefed up military presence on the border, more aggressive investigations and the overhaul of the Nuevo Laredo police department to root out pockets of drug-related corruption.
"But we can't stop here," Cuellar said. "We still have to put pressure on them."
Marty Haas, chief consular with the U.S. consulate office in Nuevo Laredo, told the families her office is not receiving much information on their missing loved ones, but she's willing to share whatever she learns.
Daniel Hernandez Joseph, Mexican consul in Laredo, said Mexican authorities often aren't informed about missing Americans, adding that they can't help if they don't receive a report.
the rest of the story can be viewed at the link.
Five American families wiped back tears Friday as they expressed their frustration to U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar over loved ones who went missing after crossing into Nuevo Laredo.
The families gathered at the historic Laredo Federal Building in a long-anticipated meeting organized by Cuellar to hear their concerns.
One by one, family members said efforts by U.S. and Mexican investigators are appreciated but have fallen short. They asked for more FBI agents to work their cases, more intelligence sharing among Mexican and U.S. police and even legislation that would penalize police for not acting quickly enough when missing-persons reports are made.
"There's a lack of urgency that the authorities show when you report a child missing," said William Slemaker of Laredo, whose stepdaughter went missing in Nuevo Laredo 10 months ago. "At times, it's hard to continue our fight, but no matter what obstacles lie in our path, we will persevere in the name of God."
Cuellar, a Laredo Democrat, vowed to continue pressuring the U.S. and Mexican governments to solve their missing-person cases.
Since last August, 41 U.S. citizens have been reported as kidnapped along the Mexican border, he said. Nineteen have been returned, two have been confirmed killed, and 20 remain missing.
Joining Cuellar for Friday's meeting were representatives from the U.S. Consul in Nuevo Laredo, the Webb County Sheriff's Department, the Texas Secretary of State's office, the FBI, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and the U.S. Marshall's Office.
Cuellar told the families he sympathized with them and has told President Bush about the kidnapping problem and urged him to invest more resources. As a result, he said, Mexico's federal government has begun to respond with beefed up military presence on the border, more aggressive investigations and the overhaul of the Nuevo Laredo police department to root out pockets of drug-related corruption.
"But we can't stop here," Cuellar said. "We still have to put pressure on them."
Marty Haas, chief consular with the U.S. consulate office in Nuevo Laredo, told the families her office is not receiving much information on their missing loved ones, but she's willing to share whatever she learns.
Daniel Hernandez Joseph, Mexican consul in Laredo, said Mexican authorities often aren't informed about missing Americans, adding that they can't help if they don't receive a report.
the rest of the story can be viewed at the link.
