Day: September 22, 2010

Somali gang allegedly involved in human trafficking in MN and TN

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

Update November 8th:  29 indicted in sex trafficking, here.

Here is another post about Somalis for Allahsoldier to complain about.  Hat tip:  a reader. 

From the Twincities Pioneer Press:

Police are investigating a large Somali gang human trafficking ring that is based in Minnesota and has a Tennessee connection, according to a search warrant affidavit.

A Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agent applied for the warrant and a St. Paul police officer is the lead detective. Both departments referred inquiries today to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, which is based in Nashville. Assistant U.S. Attorney Van Vincent said he couldn’t “confirm or deny the investigation at this time.”

The warrant was filed in Ramsey County District Court Friday and KSTP-TV obtained a copy of it Monday. The warrant has since been sealed and is no longer available.

KSTP was first to air a story Tuesday night about the investigation and provided a copy of the warrant to the Pioneer Press today.

BCA Special Agent Ann Quinn, who is a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement taskforce member, wrote the affidavit in support of the warrant. Her “primary area of responsibility is in the investigation of human trafficking cases, both domestic and international trafficking of persons,” she wrote.

St. Paul Police Sgt. John Bandemer contacted Quinn in July and asked for assistance “in locating a juvenile material witness who was needed in federal court in Nashville … in connection to the human trafficking investigation,” Quinn wrote.

Quinn was given a copy of a material witness warrant for a 15-year-old girl. Bandemer reported that the girl “had a long history of being a runaway and was being victimized by a group of Somalian males who were promoting her into prostitution,” the affidavit said.

We’ve written extensively about Somalis in both Minnesota and Tennessee, use our search function to learn more.

Religious leaders go (far) left as flocks go right

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

Here is another article that addresses the growing schism in many American faith communities.   No where is the divide so great and obvious as it is on the issue of immigration.

Author James R. Edwards Jr. of the Center for Immigration Studies published at Right Side News begins:

Research demonstrates that elites and the rank-and-file in many segments of society (e.g., business, religion, organized labor) are split over immigration issues. Elites tend to manifest post-American, cosmopolitan ideologies, while their grassroots members preserve deep-seated patriotic beliefs and attitudes, including with regard to immigration.

This phenomenon has become more pronounced in recent times in religious groups.

Read it all.   How it will end is anyone’s guess.   Incidentally along with this piece read Angelo Codevilla’s excellent analysis at American Spectator from earlier this summer of the ruling class vs. the country class.   It is, in my view, exactly the same phenomenon—some church leaders are in the ruling class.  Codevilla will help you see more clearly how the political landscape in the country has shifted as the country class rears its head.

One more thought:  I continue to be perplexed as to how the religious leaders promoting more immigration (more refugees and more illegal aliens) to supply cheap labor for business (see yesterday’s post for just one example), can justify being the handmaidens of big corporations.  Would someone please explain the rationale!

Wouldn’t the Christian thing to do be to work to improve the lives of people where they live rather then uproot them from their respective cultures and place them in meatpacking jobs, or, to live in American slums with no job?