The arrest of 13 illegal aliens wearing U.S. Marine uniforms, being transported in a “hot” van with a phony U.S. government license plate, took eight days to surface --- and even then, major newspapers ignored the story, notes Grumpy Editor.
Fox News on its Web site and London’s Daily Mail were leaders in revealing the apprehensions by Border Patrol agents on March 14 at a checkpoint near Pine Valley, an unincorporated community in southeastern San Diego County.
Two U.S. citizens, one the driver, also were arrested. They, too, wore U.S. Marine uniforms.
Some editors apparently weren’t too concerned about bringing to attention of readers that the illegals were clad in camouflaged Marine uniforms, complete with caps, and all 13 carried the same name --- Perez --- emblazoned on the backsides.
Also, the involved “U.S. government” vehicle turned out to be a privately-owned white van registered in Yucca Valley, Calif. It bore a stolen government plate (one with the line, “For Official Use Only”) that was altered, including changing the center digit --- 0 --- to read as an 8.
It was determined that the license plate belonged to a one-ton cargo van, registered to the U.S. Marine Corps.
Wearing U.S. military uniforms illegally --- especially by foreigners --- is enough to put those involved in the slammer for a long time. And a private van impersonating a U.S. government vehicle usually gets those in such a caper a long term behind bars.
It wasn’t known if Homeland Security was concerned about the incident.
So what happened to the illegals garbed as Marines?
Not much.
A Border Patrol spokesman said they were returned to Mexico, their country of origin.
Maybe they will give a push into the U.S. another try --- perhaps wearing U.S. Navy uniforms.
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