Sinaloa Cartel Druglord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera Captured Again In Mexico

Guzman Loera was arrested by Mexican military police.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

January 8, 2016

Mexico, D.F. - On Friday, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto tweeted that Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, the fugitive Sinaloa Cartel leader was arrested by military police this morning. Guzman Loera was taken into custody in the city of Los Mochis in the state of Sinaloa.

A tip led to Guzman Loera's arrest. A $5M reward was offered by the U.S. and $3M by the Mexican government. The U.S. has filed an extradiction request for Guzman Loera with the Mexican government. El Chapo has been indicted in the U.S. for drug trafficking and money laundering charges.

Mexican Government Leased Consulate Office Space In Milwaukee's Eastside

Consulate of Mexico in Milwaukee expected to open soon in the Eastside area.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

January 7, 2016

Milwaukee, WI - The Mexican government has leased 8,275 square feet at 1443 N. Prospect Ave. for a new Mexican Consulate in Milwuakee, RFP Commercial Inc. has confirmed. The Consulate office space lease was signed last month, according to the RFP website. The projected opening date for the new Mexican Consulate in Milwaukee has not been announced yet by state or Mexican government officials, but is expected to open soon.

A Consulate of Mexico in Milwaukee will be the first to open in Wisconsin and is expected to help take some of the congestion from the Consulate in Chicago, which services are provided by appointment only and has a long backlog. Mexican nationals in the four state region (WI, IL, IN, MN) will no longer wait months to get visas and legal document services by using as an alternative the new Consulate of Mexico in Milwaukee once it opens for business.  

The Consulate of Mexico in Chicago generates more than $7M a year in revenue from services rendered to Mexican nationals from Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois that include legal documents, visas, passports, Matricula Consular ID and additional services.

Real ID Act Enforced For 2016 To Enter Federal Buildings And Board Commercial Flights, TSA Confirmed

Licenses and ID''s from nine states, U.S. territories and Common Wealth will no longer be valid in 2016 to enter federal buildings or board commercial flights.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

December 29, 2016

Washington D.C. - On Jan. 10, 2016, licenses or ID's from the following states, territories and Common Wealth including AK, CA, IL, NJ, WA, MO, MN, NM, SC, Puerto Rico, Guam and U.S. Virgin Islands will no longer be valid under the 2005 Real ID Act, according to TSA.

People with these types of identification or licenses will no longer be valid to enter federal buildings or board commercial flights within the U.S.
U.S. Passports valid as an alternative to enter federal buildings and board commercial flights.

Captain Heather N. Wurth Assigned To Milwaukee 2nd Police District Station

Captain Wurth advocates to achieve trust, a community partnership with police and making the Milwaukee 2nd Police District Station a safe place in the Southside for the community it serves and protects.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

December 28, 2015

Milwaukee, WI - On Monday, Captain Heather N. Wurth confirmed that she will continue to make the Milwaukee 2nd Police District Station a safe place for community members to visit or seek services from the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD). Wurth was promoted to Captain by MPD Chief of Police Edward Flynn in November and has been working with Hispanic and non-Hispanic officers to learn about the Southside community she now serves and protects.

Captain Wurth says, that she has an open mind and in the short time she has been in the 2nd Police District, Wurth has noticed how diverse the community is in the Southside compared to other districts she has worked. She is looking forward "to learning more about the district itself, the culture, history and diversity, but also learning about the stake holders, community organizations and faith based organizations really engaged in their own neighborhoods assisting the police with our enforcement activities." She has met with community based organization leaders and Business Improvement District (BID) members in the area in the short time that she has been at the 2nd Police District Station.

Captain Wurth wants for the community in the 2nd Police District to continue to trust and work with police officers in the area as a partnership to help prevent and solve crimes. She acknowledged a number of challenges in the district and looks forward in meeting those challenges with a partnership between the community and police. Currently, Captain Wurth has assigned police officers with squads including to walking beats to patrol W. Lincoln Ave., W. Greenfield Ave., W. National Ave. and the Walker's Point area.

A current rise in crime is contributed to car thefts. Now that the Winter weather has arrived, people start their vehicles and leave them unattended during the cold weather and many end up being stolen, according to Captain Wurth. "I strongly believe in community partnerships. I know that it is a cornerstone of what we do and our success largely depends with the cooperation that we have with the community and our citizens. So, I would encourage all of our community and all our citizens, community based organizations and faith based organizations, if you are not already involved, to become involved because we need you, we simply cannot do this job alone. Whether you act as a witness or a partner with some of our stake holders, become engaged, take investment in your neighborhood, take investment in your lives and become a partner with police. I understand trust building is extremely important as well and that is something that we will continue to focus here at district number two with our professionalism by maintaining, building and strengthening our relationship with the community." 

Captain Wurth says that district two has dedicated police officers including Spanish Speaking officers and a Milwaukee County Community Prosecution Unit (CPU) that works in partnership with the community. Two of the Community Liaison Police Officers at district two are Jose Acevedo and Jesús Gloria.

Captain Wurth confirmed that she will be attending both the Spanish and English  language community crime analysis meetings in the Southside, so that she can meet community members residing in the area.

Captain Wurth has an impressive career with MPD, she has been with the Milwaukee Police Department for 23 years and have worked a variety of assignments, both patrol and administrative. Captain Wurth previously worked at District 3, District 4, District 5, District 7, the Warrant Squad (now known as the Fugitive Apprehension Unit), the Vice Squad, and Internal Affairs.  "During my patrol assignments, I have been enthusiastically involved in activities designed to build community relationships and believe this to be integral to the success of the Department and its officers, as well as the strengthening of our neighborhoods.  I have also been committed, through my administrative assignments at the Internal Affairs Division and as an adjunct instructor, to the partnerships between professionalism and advanced training," Captain Wurth stated.

Captain Wurth has a Master's Degree in Administration of Justice from Marquette University and is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy Session # 249. 

450 Mexican Pork Meat Tamales Confiscated And Importer Fined $1K In Los Angeles Airport

A passenger from Mexico declared 450 tamales to U.S. Customs and was later fined.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 19, 2015

Los Angeles, CA - The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists assigned to the Los Angeles International Airport on November 2 seized 450 Mexican pork meat tamales from a passenger who declared the food in his luggage. The passenger was asked if the tamales has any pork meat and the passenger responded no. Once the tamales were determined to have been made with pork meat, they were confiscated and later destroyed. 

"Although tamales are a popular holiday tradition, foreign meat products can carry serious animal diseases from countries affected by outbreaks of Avian Influenza, Mad Cow and Swine Fever," said Anne Maricich, CBP Acting Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles. "Every day CBP agriculture specialists prevent the intentional and unintentional introduction of harmful pests and foreign animal diseases into the U.S."
The traveler was assessed a $1,000.00 civil penalty for commercial activity with the intent to distribute. The pork meat tamales were seized and destroyed under CBP supervision, according to Maricich.

Municipal ID Amendment For Undocumented Approved By Milwaukee County Executive

Milwaukee County Budget including an amendment to create a Municipal ID approved by County Executive.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 17, 2015

Milwaukee, WI - On Monday, Chris Abele, the Milwaukee County Executive approved the Milwaukee County budget including an amendment that would create a Municipal Identification card for County-wide undocumented immigrants and underdocumented residents. The Milwaukee Common Council also approved an amendment to its City budget that would set aside funds in agreement with Milwaukee County to create a Municipal ID. 

Both the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County will work on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will establish the framework for the creation and issuance of community ID's. The Office of Government Affairs provided $150K in an allocated contingency fund account to be used for the Community ID program contingent upon the County's acceptance of the MOU and confirmation that the City of Milwaukee will match the County's contribution.

The Municipal ID will not be valid for voting purposes or to board domestic airflights. The ID will be used for County identification purposes, open a bank account, obtain a library card, get County museum and park discounts, getting prescriptions, Milwaukee Transit discounts for seniors, visiting inmates by relatives and would allow for local law enforcement to identify County residents.

Out of 66 amendments added to the County budget for 2016, Abele only vetoed two, he rejected an additional $4M to the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department avoiding a 1.4% property tax increase and rejected to fund a $750,000 fish passage in Estabrook Dam, but instead Abele wants County Supervisors to approve the removal of the dam.

The Municipal ID is the result of the Wisconsin Republican controlled legislature and Governor Scott Walker's (R) failure to approve a state picture driving permit for undocumented immigrants to legally drive in Wisconsin.

Milwaukee Common Council Approved Funding For A Municipal ID

The City of Milwaukee will partner with Milwaukee County in establishing a municipal identification card for undocumented immigrants and for underdocumented County residents.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 3, 2015

Milwaukee, WI - On Tuesday, the Milwaukee Common Council approved an amendment to create a Community Identification Card Special Purpose Account of $150K in the Mayor Tom Barrett's proposed 2016 budget. During the amendment budget debate, only Alderman Mark A. Borkowski went on record to oppose the Municipal ID amendment. Ald. Borkowski later voted with 13 other Aldermen to adopt the budget for 2016 with Alderman Bob Donovan not voting and being excused, according to the Milwaukee Common Council minutes.
The Municipal ID amendment was introduced by Alderman José G. Pérez on Friday in the Milwaukee Common Council Finance and Personnel Committee (FPC). Ald. Pérez a member of the FPC along with four other members, Aldermen Nik Kovak, Ashanti Hamilton, Terry Witkowski, including Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs voted in favor.

The City $1.55B budget would add 20 additional police officers, pay for police officer body cameras, a $1.3M improvement of City playgrounds, stall alley reconstruction for 4,000 alleys in 2016 and would restore Friday and Saturday hours for various libraries. The once approved City 2016 budget will go to Mayor Barrett for his signature. 

On Monday night, Alderman Pérez addressed the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors at a 2016 budget amendment public hearing at Mitchell Domes in support of a Municipal ID and told the County Board that the City's FPC had unanimously voted to create a fund for a Municipal ID and that the Milwaukee Common Council was expected to approve an amendment in its City budget for 2016. Also, members of Voces de la Frontera, a workers and immigrant rights organization, supporters, several undocumented County residents and clergy spoke in favor of a Municipal ID. No opposition for a Municipal ID was heard at the County Board amendment budget hearing.

The Municipal ID will be used for County identification purposes, open a bank account, obtain a library card, get County museum and park discounts, getting prescriptions, Milwaukee Transit discounts for seniors, visiting inmates by relatives and would allow for local law enforcement to identify County residents.

The Milwaukee County Finance Committee had approved an amendment to create a Municipal ID as well on the Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele's 2016 budget. The full County Board will vote on the budget on November 9.

When the Milwaukee County Board approves their Municipal ID amendment, both the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County will work on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will establish the framework for the creation and issuance of community ID's. The Office of Government Affairs provided $150K in an allocated contingency fund account to be used for the Community ID program contingent upon the County's acceptance of the MOU and confirmation that the City of Milwaukee will match the County's contribution, according to Monday's County budget hearing on amendments.
The Municipal ID is the result of the Wisconsin Republican controlled legislature and Governor Scott Walker's (R) failure to approve a state picture driving permit for undocumented immigrants to legally drive in Wisconsin.

Milwaukee Common Council budget 2016 adoption including amendments (PDF) http://bit.ly/1Pkm4zm