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CRIME STOPPERS
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT
Man wanted in Zapata arrested by Laredo police
New app protects illegal immigrants
By César G. Rodriguez ZA PATA T I ME S
A man wanted by Zapata County authorities was arrested Sunday in Laredo at a WalMart, according to police. Last week, Zapata Crime Stoppers sought the community’s assistance to locate a suspected burglar identified as
Kristopher Alan Essary, 34. At about 6 p.m. Sunday, Laredo police responded to reports of a man Essary removing security tags from merchandise at Wal-Mart, 2320 Bob Bullock Loop. LPD officers
identified the suspect as Essary. Police soon found out he had a warrant out of Zapata County for burglary. They also discovered he was in possession of a stolen vehicle, according to LPD. Essary was charged by police with unauthorized use of a vehicle and tampering with price tags.
ZAPATA, TEXAS
THREE HURT IN 3-VEHICLE CRASH
Courtesy photo / Zapata County Constable Pct. 2 Daniel "Danny" Arriaga
Shown is one of the three vehicles involved in a crash on Monday morning in Zapata.
Victim pinned in car, airlifted to hospital By César G. Rodriguez ZA PATA T I ME S
A person was seriously injured in a three-vehicle crash reported Monday in Zapata County, according to authorities. At about 9:40 a.m., first responders were dispatched to a three-vehicle collision at the
intersection of U.S. 83 and Ninth Avenue in Zapata. “Upon arrival, we found one patient that was pinned in one of the vehicles and required emergency extrication/rescue. (The) patient was extricated with multiple extrication tools including Jaws of Life, rams, spreaders, etc.,” said Zapata
County Constable Daniel "Danny" Arriaga on his Facebook page. The patient was airlifted to a hospital in the Rio Grande Valley. Paramedics treated two other people at the scene. The Texas Department of Public Safety took over the investigation.
Lawbreakers send alert when ICE comes calling By Olivia P. Tallet HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Immigration agents knocking at the door? Now, there’s an app for that, too. United We Dream, the largest national immigrant youth-led organization, has officially launched a smartphone application that added yet another tool to protect immigrants living in the U.S. illegally by utilizing high tech and online social communications. The app, called Notifica, allows immigrants here illegally to activate a plan if they come in contact with immigration law enforcement authorities or find themselves at risk of being detained. Users can prepare a set of automatic messages to alert — with one click — family members, lawyers and others if they, or someone they care about, encounter immigration enforcement authorities. The tool was developed last year and distributed on a small scale and is now available for the public on Google and Apple apps stores. Smartphone applications to deal with arrests by immigration agents are evolving in an era of increased enforcement on the southern border, as well as inside the country. “The current sociopolitical context of enforcement has increased fear and anxiety in the immigrant community, regardless of citizenship status,” said Jodi Berger Cardoso, a professor at the University of
Houston’s Graduate College of Social Work who specializes in exposure to trauma and psychosocial stress related to migrations. “We have witnessed in Texas and across the United States the increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in local communities, including schools,” she said. Adrian Reyna, director of Membership and Technology Strategies for United We Dream, said that “when something actually happens, most people don’t know what to do at that moment.” Being prepared The app was designed “precisely to have a plan of action at your” fingertips, Reyna said. Once Notifica is downloaded to a phone, the user can create personalized messages for predetermined family members and others they would want to inform in the event of an encounter with law enforcement. For example, one message could be forwarded to a lawyer warning about an arrest in progress or to a family member with instructions to call an advocate from a legal defense group. Damaris González, a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program along with her two sisters, said she and her family are installing the app on their phones. “My mom doesn’t have documents, so I want to make sure Illegal continues on A11
BATTLE OF THE BULGE
WWII veteran recognized More than 73 years after conflict, Arnoldo Rodriguez gets long-overdue stripes By Jason Mack ZA PATA T I ME S
Inches of gun barrel piercing through snow and reflecting the morning light outside a church in the Ardennes saved Arnoldo Rodriguez from joining the tens of thousands of casualties at the Battle of the Bulge. More than 73 years after narrowly escaping his foxhole, the World War II veteran is receiving the long-overdue stripes from his promotion to corporal. "I’m excited for the stripes," Rodriguez said.
"I’m really happy that they are doing something for me." The family is also thrilled to see Rodriguez officially merited more than seven decades after his paperwork was lost in the shuffle of the war. "Our father is a very patriotic veteran, and we are very appreciative and extremely proud of him for getting this recognition after all these years. It's long overdue," Susie Coultress said. "I’m so happy God has given him this opportunity that at the age of 94 he is still able to feel
the love and recognition they are giving him for serving his country so many years ago." Rodriguez, 94, and three of his brothers were drafted into the Army in 1944. His 26th Infantry Division, 104th Infantry Regiment of Company G fought in several battles before unknowingly heading into the Battle of the Bulge in December. "We didn’t know where we were going," Rodriguez said. "They took us to Belgium, and in Belgium they told us to get down. There were a lot of bombs." After being promoted to corporal by his platoon sergeant early in the battle, Rodriguez was protecting a church along
with his division on Dec. 20, 1944. German forces crossed between them and their company leaving Rodriguez trapped overnight in the foxhole that nearly became his grave. "We knew the Germans were in front of us on top of a church. We were guarding the church and the Germans crossed our line," he said. "We were supposed to be relieved by 11 o’clock, but our company couldn’t send anybody because the Germans were between us and them. We stayed there all night, and that’s when we got covered with the snow." Before falling asleep on a bale of hay, Rodriguez thought to stick his rifle Veteran continues on A11
Courtesy photo
Arnoldo Rodriguez is presented a plaque commemorating his involvement in the Battle of the Bulge by staff sergeants Jennifer Smith and Carlos Siejo.