Post by blackcrowheart on Aug 12, 2008 11:38:26 GMT -5
Witness: Tribe aimed to create immigrant haven 08/06/2008
www.twincities.com/national/ci_10120183
<http://www.twincities.com/national/ci_10120183>
WICHITA, Kan.—Leaders of an American Indian tribe considered
creating a reservation that could protect illegal immigrants from
deportation, a tribal official testified Wednesday at the trial of a
group leader accused of telling immigrants that buying memberships would
make them instant citizens.
The federal government has denied recognition of Malcolm Webber's group
as an authentic Indian tribe and says the 70-year-old—who calls
himself Grand Chief Thunderbird IV—has no Indian ancestry.
Prosecutors say the group sold tribal memberships to more than 13,000
people nationwide, often through Hispanic churches, for $50 to more than
$1,000 apiece.
Debra Flynn, who held the titles of secretary of state and chief
administrator of the Wichita-based Kaweah Indian Nation, testified about
a July 2006 tribal council meeting at which the purchase of 1,000 acres
as a reservation was discussed.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson argued the discussion was
evidence that tribal leaders knew some members were undocumented
immigrants and were taking steps to encourage them to stay in the United
States. That constitutes harboring illegal immigrants, one of the
charges in the case, he said.
Charges against Webber also include conspiring and possessing false
documents with intent to defraud the United States, and mail fraud. The
government is also seeking forfeiture of the proceeds from the alleged
criminal acts.
Flynn, also known as Little Mouse, said she had no Indian ancestry but
was an adopted member of the tribe. She pleaded guilty last week to
harboring illegal immigrants in a plea deal.
Flynn testified it was common for groups of immigrants to come to the
tribal offices in Wichita, where Webber would tell them that tribal
documents would make them U.S. citizens. Flynn said she confronted
Webber several times about the claim.
Flynn said she told Webber, "'You cannot tell people this. You can't
tell them falsehoods in order to get them to join the tribe.' That is
what he was doing."
Another witness, the Rev. Francisco Aguirre of Wichita, testified he is
a lawful resident of the United States but paid $170 for tribal
memberships for his family after Webber's assurance that doing so would
make him a U.S. citizen.
Webber also told Aguirre he could go to the Social Security
Administration office and change his status to U.S. citizen, the pastor
said.
Guatemala native Victor Orellana, a legal U.S. resident who lives in
Long Beach, Calif., testified he paid $300 for tribal memberships for
himself and his family and traveled to Wichita this year to obtain the
documents from Webber.
While in Wichita he also attended a service in a church—housed in
the Kaweah headquarters building—of which Webber asserts he is
pastor.
Webber preached that "he had a dream that God had told him to help a lot
of people who are undocumented," Orellana testified, adding that Webber
said he would do that by making them tribal members, transforming them
into U.S. citizens eligible for Social Security cards.
Orellana— who pleaded guilty this week to failing to notify
authorities of a crime—said he sold tribal memberships in California
to about 21 families. He acknowledged charging them an extra $200 per
application and keeping the money for himself.
Police seized $12,700 from Orellana's home, where they found people
lined up outside his driveway waiting to buy the memberships, Orellana
said.
Defense attorney Kurt Kerns questioned the motives of several government
witnesses who received reduced charges in exchange for their testimony.
Kerns also suggested that Flynn's testimony bolsters the defense's
contention that Webber was simply trying to help people by selling
tribal memberships.
Flynn acknowledged that during the meeting on a possible land purchase,
Webber said he wanted to give poor immigrants free memberships.
www.twincities.com/national/ci_10120183
<http://www.twincities.com/national/ci_10120183>
WICHITA, Kan.—Leaders of an American Indian tribe considered
creating a reservation that could protect illegal immigrants from
deportation, a tribal official testified Wednesday at the trial of a
group leader accused of telling immigrants that buying memberships would
make them instant citizens.
The federal government has denied recognition of Malcolm Webber's group
as an authentic Indian tribe and says the 70-year-old—who calls
himself Grand Chief Thunderbird IV—has no Indian ancestry.
Prosecutors say the group sold tribal memberships to more than 13,000
people nationwide, often through Hispanic churches, for $50 to more than
$1,000 apiece.
Debra Flynn, who held the titles of secretary of state and chief
administrator of the Wichita-based Kaweah Indian Nation, testified about
a July 2006 tribal council meeting at which the purchase of 1,000 acres
as a reservation was discussed.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson argued the discussion was
evidence that tribal leaders knew some members were undocumented
immigrants and were taking steps to encourage them to stay in the United
States. That constitutes harboring illegal immigrants, one of the
charges in the case, he said.
Charges against Webber also include conspiring and possessing false
documents with intent to defraud the United States, and mail fraud. The
government is also seeking forfeiture of the proceeds from the alleged
criminal acts.
Flynn, also known as Little Mouse, said she had no Indian ancestry but
was an adopted member of the tribe. She pleaded guilty last week to
harboring illegal immigrants in a plea deal.
Flynn testified it was common for groups of immigrants to come to the
tribal offices in Wichita, where Webber would tell them that tribal
documents would make them U.S. citizens. Flynn said she confronted
Webber several times about the claim.
Flynn said she told Webber, "'You cannot tell people this. You can't
tell them falsehoods in order to get them to join the tribe.' That is
what he was doing."
Another witness, the Rev. Francisco Aguirre of Wichita, testified he is
a lawful resident of the United States but paid $170 for tribal
memberships for his family after Webber's assurance that doing so would
make him a U.S. citizen.
Webber also told Aguirre he could go to the Social Security
Administration office and change his status to U.S. citizen, the pastor
said.
Guatemala native Victor Orellana, a legal U.S. resident who lives in
Long Beach, Calif., testified he paid $300 for tribal memberships for
himself and his family and traveled to Wichita this year to obtain the
documents from Webber.
While in Wichita he also attended a service in a church—housed in
the Kaweah headquarters building—of which Webber asserts he is
pastor.
Webber preached that "he had a dream that God had told him to help a lot
of people who are undocumented," Orellana testified, adding that Webber
said he would do that by making them tribal members, transforming them
into U.S. citizens eligible for Social Security cards.
Orellana— who pleaded guilty this week to failing to notify
authorities of a crime—said he sold tribal memberships in California
to about 21 families. He acknowledged charging them an extra $200 per
application and keeping the money for himself.
Police seized $12,700 from Orellana's home, where they found people
lined up outside his driveway waiting to buy the memberships, Orellana
said.
Defense attorney Kurt Kerns questioned the motives of several government
witnesses who received reduced charges in exchange for their testimony.
Kerns also suggested that Flynn's testimony bolsters the defense's
contention that Webber was simply trying to help people by selling
tribal memberships.
Flynn acknowledged that during the meeting on a possible land purchase,
Webber said he wanted to give poor immigrants free memberships.