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He’s had the responsibility of guarding four presidents, two ex-presidents, and a vice-president, along with various international figures.  Through 22 years in the ranks of the Secret Service, Anthony M. Chapa, better known as Tony Chapa, is retiring with the honor of being the highest-ranking Latino agent in the history of one of the oldest and most prestigious federal agencies in the United States.

“I feel very proud and honored for having belonged to the Secret Service,” he admits with nostalgia.

For more than two decades, Chapa was a real-life super secret agent.  In an interview with Expediente Rojo before leaving the service, he commented, “Our discretion is due in part that there are many people in certain places of the world or in prisons that would like to everything about us, our identities, and where our families are located. For that reason, we try to be as reserved as possible, although we can’t always be completely secret,” he explains.

The Secret Service veteran began as a police officer in San Antonio, Texas, where he is originally from.  For five years he was in direct contact with the people, particularly in high-risk Latino areas.  ”Since then I learned that the ability to communicate is more effective than a fire arm,” he said, remembering his early days.

“I feel very proud to be Latino, especially Mexican like my father and grandfather who were already in Texas way before the state became U.S. territory,” he recognizes.  ”I remember that my grandparents would say that they never came to the United States, rather that the United States went to them.  That was my first contact with the Latino world.  I didn’t speak Spanish very well but it was just a matter of time and interest.  Soon after I realized that speaking two languages would be an enormous advantage.”

Risk and Opportunity

For Tony Chapa, there was always risk and opportunity in his work. “As a Latino I always looked for and took opportunities that presented themselves to me. I took advantage of the language and my proximity to the culture.  Today I can say with pride that I feel honored to have had the opportunity to visit and work in Latin American countries and to get to know my roots better, to have a broader vision of of the world, who I am and where I come from.”

He also recognizes that his work could be “extremely dangerous”.  He explained, “When we found ourselves providing protection, we were always at risk. Your body, your mind, and your actions must always be alert. We were always the last link in the line of defense.”

Chapa was the special agent commissioned to coordinate the funeral proceedings for ex-President Ronald Reagan.  This was the first state funeral in years.  The last one he had memory of was Lyndon B. Johnson.  He remembers that no one else in the agency had the experience of managing an event of such magnitude. “We knew that the ex-president was very ill and for months we prepared and coordinated with diverse agencies, which made us able to receive dignitaries and personalities from all parts of the world without problems”.

Tony Chapa doesn’t feel nor consider himself a hero.  Although he did explain to Expediente Rojo that, “the people who worked with me day-to-day are the heroes.  They confront a risk each moment considering they’re not in U.S. territory, rather abroad, in whatever part of the world without protection”.

Very humble and always discreet, Chapa seems to admit that in certain moments in his life he could have been close to being called a hero in the streets, combating crime. In this way, he does think that he could be considered an example for other Latinos that are trying to reach their goals.

“We can’t say the exact number of Latinos in the Secret Service. But it’s almost at 5%. That’s very good. But not enough. Now we are unveiling the face of the Secret Service to invite Latinos to join the agency,” he noted.

Tony Chapa was in charge of special missions and protecting dignitaries and international figures, as well as ex-presidents Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George Bush, Bill Clinton, and then president-elect George W. Bush.  The Secret Service has also recognized Tony Chapa with various honors and awards, as have other foreign governments such as Columbia, for his efforts as a Special Agent.

It’s been 24 years since Steven Martínez joined the ranks of the FBI. Since then, his career has been exceptional, gaining recognition as he leaves his mark on each task that he is entrusted with.

Martínez  is, proudly, one of the highest-ranking Latinos in the FBI and head of the Los Angeles wing of the organization, one of the world’s largest metropolises, home to people from over 140 countries where it is estimated that over 220 languages are spoken.  Along with New York and Washington, DC, it is one of the federal agency’s three mega-offices.

With a passion for his work, along with enthusiasm and integrity, Martinez faces new challenges every day, among which are the looming threat of another terrorist attack, the FBI’s top priority.

“The biggest challenge is to prevent another terrorist attack, and here it is one of our biggest concerns – he explains – not only do we know that this is an entertainment capital, but that there also lives another part of society that doesn’t like others, we’ve detected bombs intended for Los Angeles coming through the airport (LAX) and the border.”

“The FBI Los Angeles is one of the three mega-offices, along with DC and New York,  and considered one of the largest in the nation, serving about 20 million people. Between agents and staff support there are about 1,400 people in my office. There are 76 field offices and we also have agents in different cities in embassies around the world.”

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the enactment of the USA Patriot Act, which increases the scope of FBI investigative powers, as well as other federal agencies, distrust and fear within the community have increased.

Hence, Martínez acknowledges the importance of working closely with community leaders, opening new channels of communication.

“It’s about depending on the community in general during our investigations. We receive phone calls 24 hours a day and anonymous reports via the Internet. We are always very close to the people, especially minorities,” he explains.

The Help Of Memories

Although born in New Mexico, where much of his family lives, Steven and his parents settled in California. He remembers, “My dad was in charge of the Bracero program.  He looked out for the interests of the laborers who came from Mexico.”

“I grew up near a town called Martinez (the name is purely coincidental) surrounded by countryside and nature. Ever since I was little I had the feeling that I wanted to serve the people. I knew I had to think about my future, and although I was a child, I watched films and examined photographs of the FBI. My interest in school was always helping others, which is why the FBI was perfect for me.”

Martínez completed his doctorate in political science from the University of Berkeley, California, and requested admission to the federal agency.  He recalls, “Unfortunately, I was told I needed work experience, so I kept it in the back of my mind, worked in the private sector a while and then tried again.”

 Rising Career

Martínez joined the ranks of the FBI in 1987 and worked in several areas, but he specialized in international drug investigations in El Paso, Texas. Eight years later he was promoted to the rank of Supervisor (SSA) in the Criminal Investigation Division of the FBI in Washington.

In 1997 he was assigned as Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) to the Division of Phoenix, Arizona, where he headed the drug squad and Violent Crime.

In 2001 he was promoted to ASAC position in the area of ​​organized crime and drugs, and cyber crimes in the Division of Los Angeles.

Hence it was not strange that in February 2003 he was assigned to travel to Qatar and Iraq, at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom, becoming the first FBI agent in the Command Center (CENTCOM) in Doha, Qatar, and Baghdad, Iraq. The Latino was in charge of all FBI personnel in the region and control tasks Counterterrorism and Counterintelligence at the initial stage of the war.

He returned to Washington, DC, in 2004, and in 2006 was appointed Special Agent in Charge of the Division of Las Vegas, Nevada.  Since November 2009 he has been the Director of the Office of Los Angeles.

Among the many awards he has received, recently he was awarded the Presidential Rank Award from the U.S. government for his service to this country.

An Example For Other Latinos

Although his first interest in working within the FBI came from movies, Martinez understands the difference between reality and fiction: “The impression people have is what they see in movies and TV, but I want people know we are human, we have families. The only thing is that we are very selective with whom we deal with. I want to emphasize the importance of eliminating the myth that we do not work well with other agencies, in my 24 years as an agent has not been a time when we did not have to cooperate with other agencies.”

Being Latino has helped him understand that there are other cultures and that respect is the principle of a professional relationship with the community. Living in a country like the U.S., learning about and earning the respect of communities such as immigrants is one of his challenges.

“Many immigrant communities do not have a good relationship with the authorities, possibly because they come from countries where there is no such relationship or may not have the example of an acquaintance or relative who has been in government agencies, hence they are also sometimes victims of crime and don’t report out of fear or because they think nobody can help,” he explains.

“I always think I must be a good role model, but sometimes I forget. Sometimes I go to the White House or some meetings and I realize I’m the only Latino. That makes me think and realize how far we’ve come, but we still need Latinos to fill more positions in agencies like the FBI and other parts of government,” he admits.

“What the FBI is looking for is good and intelligent people, and they come in all colors.”

Although the economic adjustments taken by the government have led to freeze new hiring of staff in some sectors and agencies like the FBI, Martinez invites young Latinos to continue to prepare and seek college degrees, “because there are always opportunities for best qualified people.”

“There are many opportunities in government and in particular, with the FBI, and we are always interested in the best candidates. I think we have to work harder to identify highly qualified Latinos because we need the best. And I know we can find them within the Latino community,” he says.

[Photo By Expediente Rojo]

Ruben Hernandez is an inspiring example for those around him, with or without physical limitations, who know full well that the struggle for a better world is worthwhile. A bullet in the head snatched his sight from him leading him to start a crusade for peace 35 years ago.

“My blindness led me down this path where in myself I see many young people reflected who have also lost their vision, arms, or legs, all victims of violence in the streets,” Ruben said in talks with Expediente Rojo.

“My commitment is to serve God, serve my family and serve my community, all of which have guided me though the years in that order. I don’t need anything else. I am pleased with what has been achieved. I have balance and harmony in my life,” says this 60 year old man and cancer survivor.

Thirty-five years ago, only three years after he was left blind, he decided to found the Unification of Disabled Latin Americans (UDLA), a non-profit organization which has helped hundreds of disabled men and women of Latin American origin, with or without documents, receive the necessary tools to integrate into society.

The accident changed his life

Ruben enrolled at Dance Institute where he was taught to read and write and live with his limitations, then decided to enroll at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and leading him down his current path.

The recent anniversary of UDLA fills him with joy and satisfaction. Diplomas, awards and photos with public figures, recognition from the White House, as well as from several other countries, hang from the walls of his office in Los Angeles.

Through his organization, Ruben helps get scholarships for those who want to continue with their studies and play sports. UDLA has its own basketball team that participates annually during the Lakers’ season, showing their skills from their wheelchairs. They also participate in the Los Angeles Marathon, the Special Olympics and other international competitions, where they have won several awards.

Fighting violence with a call for peace

Ruben not only supports the disabled, most of whom are victims of violence, but also takes to the streets and confronts violence by calling for peace. “Our neighborhoods are in constant danger, our youth are gang members and victims of gangs. Our duty is to help everyone,” he says.

Ruben began a parallel crusade for the disabled in which he periodically leads whole families on walks through the streets of dangerous L.A. neighborhoods, escorted by dozens of wheelchairs.

“I created a monitoring program on the streets which covers four areas of the city, including some of the most troubled and dangerous. We clean graffiti and talk with young gang members and invite the authorities to a “night out”, which means nothing else but a night with neighbors out on the street, rather than spend life hiding in our homes. ”

“Crime isn’t something that is beat only by police presence in the streets, but also combated on a psychological level for which we have programs that seek to invite and deter youth from picking up bad habits,” explains Ruben.

For example, neighbors immediately erase the graffiti as it appears. “And there begins the psychological battle in which we send the message that we do not want graffiti on our community.” His wife and two daughters were added to the task and together they clean the walls of his neighborhood and, among other things, collect school supplies from residents, authorities and other organizations to donate to needy children in Baja California, Mexico.

“The message arrives but takes time because it is not easy to change from night to day. The challenge is enormous.”

However, he admits that this effort has been worthwhile. “My blindness led me to find solutions for disadvantaged youth. The people who robbed me of my vision were young gang members. I’ve forgiven them and accepted that they needed help and us handicapped people and our families can offer it to people like them.”

Restoring confidence in the community and police

“Trust between the community and the police department is fundamental, so ours is a team effort. We need each other, they come and help us but then they leave and we’re left living in the neighborhood everyday,” says Ruben.

“The police are looking for a healthy society like ours so that the authorities and the community can work together. This is a journey of challenges, no doubt.”

Ruben’s many heroes

“I’m not a hero. I am a friend who gives his unconditional love every day. Without love, this effort could not succeed, this road we have taken,” he emotionally admits.

“I’ve had many heroes in this life journey. My mom and my dad, who are gone, but also some of my teachers and even Don José, the candy seller, who with his wisdom and patience listened and guided many young people like me who were looking for a friend and mentor.”

“I believe that heroes are out there. We just have to identify them and follow their path in order to have a safe and healthy community in which my kids can ride their bikes and my wife can jog in the morning without being scared. So that young people can be safe and not have to worry about stray bullets.”

“I only want one thing special when I pass away, that my tombstone says that I fulfilled my purpose: To serve God, serve my family and serve my community”.

[Photo By Expediente Rojo]

By Expediente Rojo

Approximately 15,000 people in the U.S. die every year from perscription drug overdose.

In the last 10 years, there’s been a drastic rise in the number of deaths caues by overdosing on doctor prescribed pain killers. Close to 15,000 people die every year as a result of this type of abuse, a number greater than the combined total of deaths due to heroine and cocaine overdose.

According to a recent analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), during 2010, one out of every 20 people in the U.S. aged 12 or older used prescription medication not for medical reasons, but rather for the euphoric feelings that they trigger.

Without a doubt, prescription drugs kept in the medicine cabinet or cupboards at home can pose a serious threat not only to adults but to kids and teenagers for whom abuse is reaching epidemic levels.

According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) more than 7 million Americans abuse prescription drugs.

The Partnership for a Drug Free America estimated that 2,500 teenagers take drugs everyday for the first time with a drug found at home. Abuse can cause addition to analgesis, tranquilizers, and stimulants.

There is also more talk of painkillers or so-called “pain medications” that can lead to death when they are mixed into a fatal cocktail with other drugs. Overdoses with prescription painkillers are part of a family of drugs that include hydrocodone, methadone, oxycodone and oxymorphone.

Despite recent reductions in the consumption of certain drugs among adolescents, especially marijuana, a growing number are consuming prescription and OTC drugs.

It is important to differentiate between a “prescription drug”, which is one which can only be obtained with the authorization of a licensed physician, or a “over-the-counter” medication which is sold without a prescription in pharmacies and used to combat allergies, flu, headaches, and other aches and pains.

But both types of drugs have explicit instructions on how to be consumed to avoid negative consequences. The Food and Drug Administration is the body responsible for approving all drugs that are on the market. New laws have made it harder to purchase drugs in large quantities which are intended to provide relief for certain ailments but are often used to manufacture illegal drugs such as methamphetamines.

Health authorities insist that both over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs can be as dangerous as illegal or street drugs such as cocaine, heroine, methamphetamines, or marijuana. And, when consumed without a prescription, they are just as illegal.

According to the DEA, the death toll in the U.S. due to the consumption of illegal and prescription drugs reached 31,000 last year. They also confirmed that 7 million people are addicted to illegal drugs, a similar number to those that use prescription medication.

Although experts don’t know exactly why this type of drug use is increasing, they believe that easy access has become part of the problem as doctors prescribe more drugs for health issues than ever before and internet pharmacies have made it easier to obtain drugs without a prescription, some of which are disguised as bathsalts, plant food, or home cleaning products.

Some recent statistics on drug abuse in the U.S.:

• One in five teens (19% or 4.5 million) have used prescription drugs like painkillers such as Vicodin and OxyContin, or stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall to get high.
• One in 10 (10% or 2.4 million) adolescents has used cough medicine to get high.
• Two in five teens (40% or 9.4 million) agree that taking prescription drugs, although not prescribed by a physician, is “much safer” than illegal drugs.
• Nearly one-third of teens (31% or 7.3 million) believe that “there is nothing wrong with” using prescription drugs without a prescription “once in a while.”
• Almost three in 10 teens (29% or 6.8 million) believe that pain relievers, even if not prescribed by a doctor, are not addictive.
• More than half of teens (55% or 13 million) don’t think it’s dangerous to get high off cough medicine.
• In 2008, about 15,000 people died of overdoses attributed to prescription drugs for pain in the U.S. This is more than triple the 4,000 people who died for the same reason in 1999.
• In 2010, about 12 million Americans (12 years and older) reported having used prescription drugs for pain last year.
• There are 500,000 emergency room visits each year as a result of painkiller abuse.

Sources: Partnership for a Drug Free America, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency

[Photo By  ianturton]

Alex Alonso, expert in the subject, has been very close to the phenomenon.  From an early age Alonso became familiar with the violence that reigns in the streets of our neighborhoods, but New York in particular.  This is where his special interest in studying the phenomenon of delinquency, which has led him to become one of the foremost experts on gangs in the United States.

“Seeing death so close at such a young age influenced me. Seeing someone you know dying after a shooting changes your life because you appreciate it more, gives it real meaning,” said the young man of Puerto Rican origin.

“On the other hand, I think that being so close to death makes you immune. Certainly my life changed. Today, years later, my main concern is to live for my children. I want to be there for them, I wake up every morning for them so they can help other young people,” said Alonso in his office in Los Angeles, California, where he’s lived for several years.

Despite having lived so closed to violent episodes, Alex admits to never having had that paralyzing fear. He’s dedicated the last 15 years to studying gangs, living with them and getting to know them from within.

His need to discover the truth behind the scourge of gangs has led him to be considered a historian, researcher and even reporter. He recognizes that there are many myths behind gangs which makes him proud to investigate and learn more about them.

“Knowing the reason for the phenomenon of gangs in our streets, what’s behind them, what’s their truth, their reality,” he explains.

On various occasions Alonso has been called to testify in court as an expert on the subject. His knowledge has helped to better understand what goes on through the mind of a young person who has chosen violence and delinquency as their path.

“Mistakes can be made which influence the life of a good young kid through bad judgement. Which is why I like to participate and make a difference,” he says.

This is why Alex Alonso took to the adventure of creating a website (www.streetgangs.com) through which he shares his knowledge with young people and anyone who wants to go deeper into the world of gangs.

A wrong choice

For Alex, lack of attention is what causes young people to become interested in joining criminal gangs, although he assures that only 15% of youth are integrated into them. He admits that, despite having grown up in a harsh environment, it was not difficult to choose an honest life. He is certain that his decision was made because he comes from a strong family and because he never had need or desire to try drugs.

“The problem,” he insists, “has its origin in the family. We can not change from where we are today. The challenge is to help parents who are raising children alone, and perhaps the answer lies in more after-school programs so that kids don’t return home to spend so much time alone. ”

In his opinion, “when you spend time alone, when no one looks after you, no one disciplines you. That’s when you start to think about doing bad things”. Currently, 85% of youth that are in jail come from families where there was only one parent at home, explains Alonso.

Being fortunate enough to have been raised with good values, Alex did not imagine that he would have the opportunity to go to college. His mom finished high school and then dedicated himself to photography while his father enlisted in the military. For those reasons, he never felt the pressure to take his studies to a higher level. But it was life that drove him: “I couldn’t find a job and, well, I said maybe what I should do is study”.

After taking the right steps, he’s now an adviser to young people. “I’m not sure if I’ve changed anyone’s life because when I’ve spoken with gang members I don’t see immediate results,” he recognizes.

Some time later, there are those that ask him what to do to get into college. Changing the life of a person is marvelous, but there’s still a lot left to do, you have to look for alternatives for them, so that they don’t spend time on the street not doing anything”, he insists.

Alonso doesn’t talk to his own children about his work, as he says they are still little. He writes articles for various publications so his kids know him as a writer. But what worries him more than the subject of gangs is talking to his kids about the drug use and sex. He says, “When you come from a well structured family, gangs don’t worry you as much as drugs which can enter into any home”.

He never thought that his interest in gangs would bring him so much satisfaction. Today, aside from being an adviser to politicians and authorities, he still feels that there’s a lot more he could be doing. “I would love to go to a prison, to live day to day with prisoners and gangs members when they’re out of the public eye, to learn more about them and their culture, in their environment”.

For Alonso, the authorities don’t really know what or who the gangs are, what they talk about when they get together, what they do when they’re at home.

“I believe there are very dangerous places. They’ve created maps of zones where I go to talk to or get to know gang members. Nothing has ever happened to me, the only thing is that sometimes gang members think that I’m a cop. But aside from that I’ve never had a problem, I like to do what I do. I go, I speak to them, I get to know them and that’s it”, shares Alonso.

His own heroes

Alonso admires Father Greg Boyle, one of the most important figures in East Los Angeles, considered one of the most dangerous zones in the city. Boyle is the founder of Homeboy Industries, an organization that helps gang members learn skills to reintegrate themselves into society.

“I admire Father Boyle for his human qualities, because he never says no to anyone, because he listens to every youth and he gives attention to all that cross his path. Sometimes that’s the only thing that’s needed,” says Alex with a smile of satisfaction.

I’m sure that if there were more people like him all over Los Angeles there would be at least a 15-20% drop in crime. But he’s just one man making a difference”, he laments.

His other hero is Roberto Clemente, the baseball legend of Puerto Rican descent who died trying to help Nicaraguans after an earthquake. “He is a hero who died helping his people”, he remembers.

“I don’t consider myself a hero, but I hope that my kids and grandkids remember me as a honest and loving man, someone who had passion for his work. I want to teach them to have passion for their work, because part of what I do doesn’t pay, but it’s still rewarding”, he affirms.

“Today I had people call me and they wanted to give me money for what I do, so that I can produce programs for television and movies. For me each days is a new opportunity to learn and discover something”.

[Photo By GlacierTim]

Daniel Hernandez Jr., former Congressional intern, credited with helping save Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords’ life after she was shot last January was elected to a school board in Arizona early last week according to the LA Times.

According to the report, the humble hero and political science major made no mention of the tragic shooting incident during his campaign.  Although Hernandez was recognized by the President for his acts during that fateful day last January, the University of Arizona student has claimed that the incident may have detracted people from his efforts to improve education in his district.

Hernandez will serve the same Tuscon area district in which he graduated high school from in 2008.

[Photo By Pete Souza]

“Every 10 minutes a woman or a child is brought illegally to the United States for use as a slave.”

After being brought into this country under false pretenses, the stories of those who manage to escape from slavery and live to tell about it sound like a movie. The sad thing is that most stories aren’t part of a screenplay or television, but the daily lives of thousands of victims who come to the United States with the hope of ​​helping their families back home. Unfortunately, the reality goes beyond fiction.

Although the stories begin in different parts of the world, especially Thailand, Indonesia, Mexico, Korea, Russia, the Philippines and, to a lesser extent countries from every continent, the cases of abuse are similar. Trafficking networks are found in places where people are most vulnerable and their prey almost always has the same profile: working women living in extreme poverty, with one or two children and/or victims of an abusive husbands.

Hunger, sick parents and desperation are overwhelming. So when someone approaches them and offers them a “solution” in the United States where “they can have a house and a well paying job,” it sounds like a dream. They are tricked into leaving their life of misery and turned into easy prey hoping for a world of “freedom and prosperity.” But the reality is different.

According to the United States Department of Justice, a woman or a child is brought illegally to the United States for use as a slave every 10 minutes.

Strangers in a country where the primary obstacle is not speaking the language, they are mistreated by their captors, who constantly remind them that they are their “masters” and that their freedom will not come until they pay back the cost of transport to the U.S. Although even when they have earned back every penny, their payment still won’t be enough.

Crammed into a room or a house, they work 14-hour days, sometimes 17, and a “good day” is one in which they only work 12 hours. Their tasks vary, though most are intended to be prostitutes, while others are domestic workers, construction workers, garment workers, or simply live in agony not knowing what the next day holds for them. Threatened and told not to speak with anyone one else who isn’t a slave, these brave women are not allowed to get sick, much less complain, because that can cost them dearly.

Confined to a dark life (as many of them do not see daylight for months), they are constantly under threat: the fear that their loved ones could “pay” for their disobedience keeps them striving. In this strange country, the police are their worst enemy (or so they are made to believe) and hunger and fatigue their closest companions. Their memories are all they’ve got left, because being a slave means not ever having the chance to return to their country of origin, although there they were literally starving.

In their “moments of peace” they talk about escaping. In fact, there is always a bold one in the group that encourages others not to give up on finding a way out.

An estimated 30 million people live as slaves around the world. Annually more than one million cases are discovered, according to the United Nations (UN).

The good news is that there is another way. The women who can talk about their harrowing experiences today were previously arrested by the police, which is when they began their new life. But their path to recovery wasn’t easy, as they had to go through the humiliation of being treated like a criminal just for wanting a better life for their families. Some of them came into the U.S. with passports, but they are treated as undocumented for not having known what kind of trouble they were involved in when they entered the country.

Without even understanding their legal situation, they are thrown into prison. Not far from the sites where they were “rescued” from, they come to the conclusion that perhaps their previous captors “were right” and that they’ll spend the rest of their days in this foreign country, unable to return home. Worst of all is that their family members may die without knowing what happened them making their sacrifice in vain.

The scars of the soul are not erased. Those who tell their stories overcome the initial trauma, but the fear of being abused again never leaves them. Lost innocence is never recovered, and the humiliation which they were subjected to follows them like a shadow. Despite a life that was once bleak, many move on and enjoy the good things life has to offer (although it’s difficult for them to believe they deserve it).

In 2000 the U.S. government implemented a program which gives a T-Visa to all victims of human trafficking that allows them to work in the country for three years and then seek permanent residence. In return, the victims cooperate with authorities to help fight this societal cancer.

[Photo By IraGelb]

It is not difficult to imagine that Juan Manuel Rodriguez has managed to turn the tide in the lives of many young prisoners in Mexico. He knows well the problems and obstacles that live in and off the streets, from poverty to the need to be accepted and to belong to the “band.”

His passion for literature

Originally from Aguascalientes, Mexico, Juan Manuel is the seventh of 10 siblings. His childhood, he says, was simple. “My childhood was humble, my father was a shoemaker and a drunk. I asked my mom once if my dad was really drunk and she told me that the last [bender] lasted four years. I grew up between the shoes and games with many gaps. ”

Despite these shortcomings, Juan Manuel says he was rich in ideas. His passion for reading and writing changed his life, what started as a hobby became a way of life, a transformation for dozens of people who just need a chance to express their feelings through poetry. And today he runs literary workshops in various jails of Aguascalientes.

“My dad died when I was 6 years old , so I was fatherless. Thereafter my mother marked this every year,” he recalls.

“After the death of my father, my mother took over. My brothers were already a little big, the oldest was 17 years or so, and tried to work and study. My mom gave us the example to work and study, we scored the study. I grew up in the neighborhood between the dangers of the street.   I was already smoking by age 9, we went into the chapel to smoke, then everyone in the neighborhood tried marijuana. ”

It is these experiences in the neighborhood that have helped young people understand that they prefer the path of crime and violence. “I started writing poetry as a challenge. I didn’t know it was poetry until a friend read my texts, and he, Richard Ezekiel, was my first teacher. I lived a double life, my work and the band.”

He learned about the abuses that sometimes boys undergo and, opened the door to talk about it with other kids who did not share his fate, learning how to choose the path of success. Juan Manuel needed to expose the positive side and the emotional reality lived on the streets. Thus began poetry workshops in the prison of Social Rehabilitation Center (Cereso) for children in Aguascalientes.

From neighborhood to neighborhood

Interested in bringing to light the sense of “neighborhood,” in 1994 Juan Manuel launched a radio program called “Mi Barrio,” where traditional music was heard in the neighborhood, but was also a place for complaints and help for the families of the boys band. Unknowingly, Juan Manuel’s passion for helping the community would become a profession that would change his life.

“So my community work went hand in hand with my literary work in prisons. I covered two prisons, the Cereso for adults and minors in Aguascalientes, where they began to win prizes. That was how I started with people who had nothing to do. They were lonely or whatever, and enrolled in my class, a change of life, left and right, “explains

“Then I got more prisons and put my people to write and went on to win awards. I don’t have a degree and it’s hard work. I read a lot and prepare, I get paid for doing what I like. ”

Although to many inmates he is considered a hero, Juan Manuel says that title is reserved for the woman who gave him life: “The majority of my family is composed of women, no TV hero was for me a hero, my mother was my hero. ”

And although he says that success is measured many ways, his greatest satisfaction are his sons and all those who have placed their trust in him. “I have murderers, kidnappers, all, I have people who have changed their attitude and that I recognize. They appreciate me. The salary I get paid is no recognition of those people. I do not expect them to give thanks, because if I did I would get frustrated, but that hug or affection they give me is priceless. ”

Juan Manuel is the author of several poetry collections including “The Cat writes with 20 pins,” published in March 2001. He collaborates with several magazines, of course in the art and culture sections. Some of his work has involved criminal inmates.

Also, this modest man, 41, is editor and coordinator of the publication LeTRASlasRejas written entirely by local prison inmates, who attend free creative writing workshop that he coordinates.

Thanks to the support and confidence of the prison authorities of Aguascalientes, Juan Manuel cultivates the satisfaction of his students’ numerous awards, including a very special National Poetry Prize Prison for five consecutive years.

“The teacher is an example, a great friend who believes in us, I really think we can do something different, something useful here in prison and once they go out and fulfill our convictions,” said one of his students to Expediente Rojo, while visiting one of these rehabilitation centers in Mexico.

{Photo By JoelMontes]

“It’s time we talk about the Mexican dream,” Zapotec researcher Felipe Lopez says.

At just 16 years old and without speaking Spanish – only his indigenous language, Zapotec – Felipe López left Mexico in search of his dreams. The road, of course, was rife with sacrifice and misfortune. Today, 28 years later, he fights on several fronts against ignorance and abuse, leading to indigenous communities a message of hope.

López now says it is time for young people to think of the “Mexican dream” and not leaving their home communities and risking their lives in a country where they will always be are foreigners. To achieve this, López believes education is the answer.

After learning Spanish and English, López was so committed to fulfill his goals that he now has a bachelor’s degree, masters in Latin American Studies and a doctorate in Urban Development from UCLA.

This professor and researcher at the University of San Diego (UCSD) has left behind the bitter days, suffering for being away from his family and his land, as well as the time he spent washing dishes and cooking in the Chinese restaurants of Los Angeles, the city he chose as his home.

He communicated by sign with his Chinese co-workers and in Zapotec with the compatriots he met along the way. After intense days of work, at night he took English and Spanish classes simultaneously. He began to devour books and to learn about history, one of his passions.

Today he takes projects of investment, education and development to some of the poorest communities of his native Oaxaca, resulting in schools, paved streets, water and power, even telephone lines. It is estimated that more than 500,000 Oaxacans live in the U.S. and their remittances are in excess of $500 million dollars annually, helping to finish modest, but necessary, investment projects.

For several years, he’s given Zapotec classes, a language spoken by most ethnic groups in Oaxaca, and is the author of the only trilingual dictionary (English-Spanish-Zapotec). The text is of great help in the immigration courts in California, and in some universities.

”Not only my dictionary has been helpful in the courts, bur I myself am an active interpreter in the courts, because we know that there is an enormous number of indigenous migrants do not even speak Spanish, as I did at first, are and working in the fields and services and are victims of all kinds of abuse.”

“We have seen in recent years a growing presence of indigenous Oaxacan immigrants, even in San Diego and San Francisco, New York and Miami. As occurs in Los Angeles, are also victims of abuse by their employers, as well as the authorities, and are largely unaware of the language as well as their rights.”

One of the most common examples, López explained, is that recently arrived immigrants are detained by the authorities when they cross the border, and then confront the deportation process. But they can’t be sent to their country without the presence of an interpreter who lets them know they legal rights. In the absence of sufficient interpreters of indigenous languages in the country’s courts, the detainees can spend months in prison awaiting a new hearing.

“It’s time we talk about the Mexican dream, the indigenous youth who, like me, only see salvation as the norther border and the search for a better life, the opportunities that we don’t have at home. Death by crossing is our daily bread. The Mexican government calls us heroes, but that doesn’t prevent our deaths,” he said.

Lopez would like others to only see him as any other person, worthy of telling their story. As an indigenous person, he says, he came to the university with dedication and perseverance. “My message to children of my people is that if you can achieve your dreams. I’m just a very lucky man. I have two children that have received scholarships for being good students. I have instilled in them that education is the foundation of success,” López said.

In his spare time, which isn’t much, López said he also gives free Zapotec classes and continues to recruit interpreters of indigenous languages to the California courts. He organizes sporting events involving Oaxacan children and adolescents studying in area schools. And, he gives talks to young people to prevent them from joining gangs. Felipe has been a consultant in the field of food and agriculture for the United Nations. His message has arrived at the congress of the European Parliament at the invitation of Mexican Congress and ensures that his participation in forums like these makes many people uncomfortable.

“We must recognize that often the government of Mexico speaks out against the constant abuse that we are victims in this side of the border, but they tend to ignore that in our own country, the victims are the indigenous. We are marginalized and we ignored, here and there,” he said.

[Photo By Oaxaca.info]

In legal terms, “kidnapping” means “a person taken or detained against their will.” Kidnapping cannot only be considered an act by strangers, but rather it can also be committed by acquaintances, romantic partners, and including acts by parents involved in custody disputes.

• A child is lost every 40 seconds in the U.S. More than 2,100 per day and 800,000 children every year.
• 58,200 were kidnapped by a stranger.
• 203,900 minors were kidnapped by someone they knew.
• 90% are minors between the ages of 4 and 11. It is estimated that there could be some 500,000 kidnapping cases that go unreported.
• Unfortunately, 53% of all kidnapping cases end tragically.
• It is estimated that 44% of cases end in tragedy during the first hour.
• By the third hour, that percentage rises to 74% and it rises to 91% after 24 hours.
• To make matters worse, reports by parents take between   2 and 4 hours and time is working against them.
• It has been found that in 22% of cases the children are alive when they are reported missing, but it is more alarming that in 42% of cases the children are already dead when they are reported missing.

Sources: National Center For Missing And Exploited Children (NCMEC), UNICEF, FBI.

[Photo By chefranden]

An estimated one fifth of Americans suffer from a mental disorder. There are violent acts that are associated with mental health — rape, toxic substance dependence, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and bipolar disorder, domestic violence and child abuse — for example.

However, experts believe that people with mental illness are more likely to be victims of violence than potential criminals.

The mental health of young people linked to domestic violence, abuse or neglect of adults and dependence on alcohol and drugs, among others. But it also adds pressure on school peers.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among children 14 to 25 years and the fourth among 10 to 15 years. Suicide attempts are becoming more common, too. Mental health problems are conditions that include changes in thinking, mood, and/or behavior. When they are more severe, they are called mental illness. These include anxiety disorders, disorders of hyperactivity and attention deficit, depression and other mood disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia or others. When these diseases affect children under 18 years old, they are known as serious emotional disturbances (SEDs).

Four out of five adolescents with suicidal tendencies give warnings, so it’s important to pay attention to changes in behavior. Young Latinos in the United States may face an identity crisis that sometimes brings to mind the fatal outcome. Here are brief descriptions of some of the most common mental illnesses according to the Administration of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (SAMHSA):

• Panic: You can diagnose this condition if you live in constant fear of having a panic attack or anxiety. People who experience four or more panic attacks over a period of four weeks suffering from the so-called panic disorder.
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: It is characterized by the presence of harmful thoughts or obsessions that are repeated constantly and the sufferer repeats the same action over and over again to make the thoughts go away. Some examples of these obsessions include the fear of having an accident, fear of hurting others, and disturbing thoughts about religion or sex.
• Obsessive – Compulsive Disorder: Affects about 3 million American adults. It is characterized by the presence of harmful thoughts that are repeated constantly.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: It is an anxiety disorder that can occur after a person goes through a traumatic event that caused intense fear, helplessness or extreme fear. For example, witnessing a violent or tragic event, rape, war, natural disasters, physical and mental abuse, accidents or captivity, among others.
• Social Phobia: It consists of a preoccupation with the possibility of being ashamed in front of others. Their fear may be so strong that it prevents them from doing daily tasks. They may have trouble talking with others at work or at school. Their fear may occasionally even from going to work or school.
• Depression: Depression affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way that values and way of thinking in general. People with a depressive illness cannot just help themselves to improve. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months or years.
• Bipolar Disorder: This disorder has two names currently in use: Bipolar disorder and manic-depressive illness. The first term is the most common. The disorder causes severe mood swings. It can be very destructive and cause damage to personal relationships, job loss, financial difficulties and in some cases to third parties.
• Schizophrenia: Schizophrenia is a serious brain disorder and affects a person’s ability to think clearly, manage emotions, make decisions or relate to others. Most people with schizophrenia have symptoms of the disease throughout their lives, either chronically or episodically.
• Schizophrenia is a serious brain disorder that affects approximately 2.2 million adults in the U.S., equivalent to about 1.1% of the population over 18 years. About 18.9 million American adults experience a depressive illness that affects the body, mood and thoughts.

The Dark Side of Mental Health Among Latinos

How often do you use the expression “I’m crazy”? The reality is that mental health is not something to be taken lightly or ignored.

“22% of the Latino population has mental health problems and only 2% seek help for mental health needs,” according to the Mental Health Association of Latinos.

Many studies agree that the major mental health problems facing the Latino community are schizophrenia, anxiety and depression. “We know that in adolescence the process of depression, substance abuse and no drugs, begins which often are treated by self-medication due to forgetfulness, sadness or loneliness,” according to research.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that for Latinos living in the U.S. for long periods of time, the odds of developing mental disorders increases, accompanied by a dramatic increase in rates of alcohol, antidepressants and other chemicals. According to the Center, young Latinos in the United States face an identity crisis at times have led to fatal outcomes thinking.

“Suicide is a tragedy that exists in our community, especially among children and adolescents. At the social level, it is the third leading cause of death in young people between 15 and 23, and the fourth among 10 to 15,” according to studies conducted among Latino families in Southern California.

Suicide is ranked number 11 among the causes of death in the United States, which at times has come to exceed the number of homicides.

Worst of all, it addresses concerns about mental disorders remains a taboo among Latino families. Experts say that four out of five adolescents with suicidal tendencies give warnings. Important is that parents and guardians of young people pay attention to red flags that can be detected among their children. Here are some of them:

• Changes in behavior
• Lack of communication
• Loss of interest in family activities, sports and school
• They get very irritable
• Are sure that life is worth nothing
• Engage with people who have the same feelings

“Everything in life has a solution except death.” Understanding this principle helps to seek support, especially at times when life seems no longer make sense.

There are several support centers in the country.

Resources:

• American Association Against Suicide: (202) 237 2280
• National Center for Youth Violence: 1-866-723-3968
• Covenant House Nine Line
• 1-800 – 999-9999
• 24 hour hotline for crisis in adolescents.
• Mental Health Administration and Substance Abuse (SAMHSA)
• 1-888-628-9454 (Assistance in Spanish 24 hours)
• National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
• www.nimh.nih.org
• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• American Association of Suicidology
• Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network

[Photo By Mykl Roventine]

There is an average of more than 600,000 rapes committed each year in this country, this is how they break down:

• Monthly: about 59,000 cases.
• Per day: more than 1,800 cases.
• Per hour: about 75 cases.
• Per minute: 1 case every 60 seconds.
• Women are 10 times more likely to suffer sexual assault than men. Moreover, it is believed that one in five college women are forced to have sex.
• While in 20% of cases, the woman claims she was forced to have intercourse, only 3% of men admit using force to subdue a woman.
• Unfortunately only 16% of rape cases are reported to police annually and 8% of them do not have a solid enough evidence to take to trial.
• Among the victims, 1 to 3 cases are victims under 12 years old and about 2/3 are under 18 years. In addition, 18% of victims who were sexually assaulted before age 18 are likely to be raped again, or continue to be raped after reaching this age.
• In 68% of cases the rape is committed by someone known to the victim, and in 9% of the time the violation is committed by a spouse or other family member.
• Although most people believe that rape occurs in dark places, alleys or deserted areas, 6 in 10 violent sexual acts happen in the home of the victim, a friend or neighbor.
• Over 40% of rapes occur between 6 p.m. and midnight.
• Moreover, rape is a violent act that in 36% of cases requires that victims receive medical treatment. Between 19% to 22% suffer from injuries to their genitals, 40% contract a sexually transmitted disease, and 1% to 5% of women get pregnant (approximately 30,000 women annually).
• Victims of rape are 13 times more likely to attempt suicide, compared to the victims involved in other types of crime. Sometimes they develop mental problems, including bulimia nervosa.
• Less than 50% of those accused of rape are prosecuted and 20% of those who are prosecuted are serving long sentences in prison.
• The average term is 11 months in prison.
• The U.S. is one of the countries with highest number of rape cases in the world. The statistics are four times higher than in Germany, 13 England and 20 times more than in Japan.

Sources:
Department of Justice and non-profit organizations that defend the rights of women.

[Photo By WeNews]

Latinos and African Americans are the demographic groups with the greatest increase in drug use between 2008 and 2009.

• Use of these substances among young African Americans, 12 to 17 years old increased from 7.3% in 2008 to 10.4% in 2009. Similarly, among Hispanic males in this age group, drug use increased from 9.2% in 2008 to 12.8% in 2009, with an overall increase of 43% to 39%, respectively.
• Among the Anglo community 1 in 10 children between 12 and17 years admitted having tried drugs, while 1 in 5 young adults aged 18 to 25 reported having consumed at least one of the prohibited substances.
• The economic cost alone is huge, estimated at about $ 215 billion.
• 1 in 5 teens has used Vicodin, a powerful and addictive narcotic used to control pain.
• 1 in 10 young people have used OxyContin, another drug that is sold by prescription.
• 1 in 10 young people have used the stimulants Ritalin or Adderall without medical necessity.
• 1 in 11 young people admits to being high on cough medicine.

Sources:
National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2009 andthe Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse(SAMHSA, for its acronym in English), Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP, for its acronym in English), DEA.

[Photo By  Steve Snodgrass]

Hate crimes

Hate crimes are motivated by hostility or aggression toward any person because of race, color, sexual orientation, disability or religious beliefs. Every hour of every day a hate crime is committed in the United States.

Latinos, Victims Of Intolerance

Intolerance and racial prejudice have worsened across the country but especially in multi-ethnic and multiracial areas where Latinos are often the most vulnerable victims. The main target for bigotry against the Latino community is related to immigration, experts on the subject say.

2009 was a year plagued by hate. According to statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), hate crimes, particularly toward Latinos, increased by 40%. Many of the victims were attacked just for being immigrants or because they were Latino.

For example, on February 26, 2009 the lives of many Chilean students changed in a matter of minutes. Dannie Roy Baker, 60, discharged his weapon without mercy against several foreign students participating in a student exchange program between the U.S. and Chile, in the state of Florida. Paul Nicholas Corp-Torres, 23, and Racine-Aragondona Balbantil 22, died instantly. Three other foreigners: Mauricio Sebastian Araiza-Suarez, 27, David Alonzo Francisco Javier Bilbao Meza and Copper-Fernandez, both 25, were seriously injured.

But 2008 was not any less violent. Carlos Orellana, a construction worker who lived in suburban New York was beaten during the summer by a group of young people just for speaking Spanish. His case didn’t really make headlines because it didn’t end in death, unlike the case of Marcelo Lucero, an Ecuadorian immigrant, who was stabbed to death last November at the hands of seven high school students.

“My heart is broken and his memories will live forever, my brother left a 9 year-old son, a 4 year-0old girl, and a heartbroken family.” These are the words of pain Sucuzhanay Diego, who lost his brother Joseph at the hands of the intolerance of some youths who attacked him with a bat because he was gay and Latino.

Note that in this climate of intolerance white supremacist violence is increasing due to the debate over illegal immigration and economic problems. These hate messages are seen on a larger scale using the Internet to recruit followers. In the background of all of this is the recognition that hate crimes are a growing problem, crimes fueled by intolerance and discrimination. We need appropriate legislation and instruments to combat hate crimes.

Identifying Hate Crimes

• The first thing to ask is whether the crime victimizes one person or an entire group, either by religion, nationality, sexual preference, etc. A crime caused by intolerance toward any group can, in addition to causing fear, cause humiliation to all members of the community.
• This type of behavior may attack or threaten not only the person but your property. Painting a swastika, burning a cross or throwing paint on a car or a wall are proof of that.
• Listen to the attacker. Any negative complaints against a person or racial group may indicate deeper anger to commit a crime.
• A hate crime does not necessarily mean murder, violent assault or destruction of property. For example, intimidation, insults and harassment are other ways to commit such crimes.

Recommendations

• Immediately report the incident to the police or your local community organizations.
• Write down the exact words, insults or threats. In addition to any other information that might be useful.
• Locate witnesses to the incident, if any.
• Preserve evidence of the crime on people or property.

You can also visit the following links:

http://www.amnestyusa.org/en-espanol

http://www.aclu.org/intlhumanrights/index.html

http://www.cahro.org/index.html

http://www.hrc.org/5256.html

http://www.hrw.org/es

http://www.un.org/spanish/hr/

www.wecareforyouth.org