Mexico Trucker Online

News – Politics – Immigration – Trucking – Truth

Aug 07

UPDATE – DOJ opens investigation into murder of Luis Ramirez

On Tuesday, Department of Justice (DOJ) Spokeswoman Jamie Hais announced that the FBI and the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ have started investigations into the beating death of Ramirez. The opening of these investigations follows reports that local officials inadequately responded to Ramirez’s death. MALDEF has been critical of local authorities for their delayed investigations and for their public disbelief that local teens could have committed such heinous acts.

Gladys Limon, of MALDEF’s Los Angeles office, told reporters about the importance of involving federal authorities:

Jul 25

A Turning Point? – 3 Pennsylvania teens charged in immigrant’s death

By P.M. Corn Hate Crimes View Comments

Luis Ramirez lies in his hospital bed hours before his death at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pa.. Ramirez, 25, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, died Monday, July 14, 2008 from injuries he received in a beating in Shenandoah, Pa

Three white teens were charged today in what officials said was an epithet-filled fatal beating of an illegal Mexican immigrant in a small northeast Pennsylvania coal town.

Brandon J. Piekarsky, 16, and Colin J. Walsh, 17, were charged as adults with homicide and ethnic intimidation in the July 12 attack on Luis Ramirez.

A third teen, Derrick M. Donchak, 18, was charged with aggravated assault, ethnic intimidation and other offenses. All are from Shenandoah, where the attack occurred.

Ramirez, 25, was beaten to death after an argument with a group of youths that police said included high school football players. Authorities could not immediately say if any of the suspects were members of the team, but they confirmed that all three used ethnic slurs during the fight.
Continue reading »

Tagged with: Ethnicity • Hate Crimes • Pennsylvania • racism

May 18

Pennsylvania House panel votes for Bush to end cross-border program

By P.M. Corn Cross Border Program, U.S. Trucking News Comments Off

The Pennsylvania House Transportation Committee unanimously approved a measure that calls for President Bush to comply with federal law regarding trucks from Mexico.

Sponsored by state Rep. Dan Surra, D-Elk, the resolution urges the Bush administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation to obey recently enacted federal law.

“Allowing Mexican truckers and long-haul rigs on highways throughout the United States – absent the rigorous inspections and safety and training standards for U.S. trucks and truck drivers – is dangerous to the public,” Surra said in a written statement.

The pilot project was started in September 2007. It authorizes tractor-trailers from 11 Mexico-based trucking operations to cross the border and travel throughout the U.S.

Congress approved legislation late last year to stop funding for the program, citing concerns that Mexican trucks don’t meet U.S. safety standards. The Bush administration and U.S. DOT, however, are continuing to allow the Mexico-based trucks to cross the border.

Surra is looking to put more pressure on the president and DOT to end the program.

“Keeping these Mexican trucks on U.S. highways is a direct violation of federal law, a law that the president himself signed,” Surra said. “It also puts many safe U.S. trucking companies and truck drivers at a competitive disadvantage in their own country.”

More political posturing to be certain. And it will have no effect on anything. 8 months into the program, there have been no accidents, catastrophic incidents or accidents and no American carrier has been put at an “economic disadvantage”

We have proven time and again that these trucks are scrutinized closer than any American or Canadian carrier on the road.

I can forsee at the successful conclusion of the program, either an extension for another year or two, or complete opening of the southern border, conditional on all applicants passing the PASA. And honestly, there will be no reason to deny this from happening.

The arguments of the opposition becomes weaker and weaker as each day passes without an incident, and I also imagine the Courts are looking at the program in this manner.

So Mr. Surra, you’ve had your 15 minutes of fame, now go on back into your hole and continue selling the infrastructure of your state to the highest bidder.

Tagged with: cross border • Mexican trucks • Pennsylvania • Surra

Mar 05

Pennsylvania Lawmaker looking for his 15 seconds in the spotlight

By PMC Cross Border Program View Comments

A misguided Pennsylvania state lawmaker, looking to get his name in the media, is calling for President Bush to comply with the federal law regarding trucks from Mexico.

State Rep. Dan Surra, D-Elk, has offered a resolution that urges the Bush administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation to obey recently enacted federal law.

“Allowing Mexican truckers and long-haul rigs on highways throughout the United States – absent the rigorous inspections and safety and training standards for U.S. trucks and truck drivers – is dangerous to the public,” Surra said in a written statement.

Congress approved legislation late last year to stop funding for the pilot program, citing concerns that Mexican trucks don’t meet U.S. safety standards. The Bush administration and U.S. DOT, however, are continuing to allow the Mexico-based trucks to cross the border.

Surra is looking to put more pressure on the president and U.S. DOT to end the program.

“Keeping these Mexican trucks on U.S. highways is a direct violation of federal law, a law that the president himself signed,” Surra said. “It also puts many safe U.S. trucking companies and truck drivers at a competitive disadvantage in their own country.”

The resolution – HR612 – is awaiting consideration in the state’s House Transportation Committee.

Editors Note: Actually, the truth of the matter, which has been proven on this site, is that the Mexican carriers engaged in this program are rigorously inspected and and held to the same and somewhat higher standards than their American counterparts. The concerns cited are merely a smokescreen put before the American public by special interest groups such as the Teamsters and OOIDA to furhter their nativist and protectionist agenda.

In the six months this program has been in operation, there have been no incidents, accidents or other actions that have put the American public at risk. To date, the program has been a success.

In regards to it being in violation of Federal Law, that will be for the 9th Circuit to decide. Most people with a brain and the knowledge to use it realize that FMCSA is following the Dorgan amendment to the letter. They have not “established” any Pilot Programs regarding Mexican trucks since the Omnibus Spending Bill was signed into law. Er, where in the hell is Elk Pa anywho?

What I find fascinating is the people opposed to this program no absolutely nothing about the border, our industry down here and will in no way be impacted by the Mexican carriers involved.