Assimilation into American values is often called an imperialist idea, but often other countries, particularly countries that have endured several generations of poverty, have cultural norms that cannot be allowed to continue in America. Female genital mutilation comes to mind immediately, but considering that Mexico has become almost completely lawless we need to ensure immigrants from there leave their worse habits behind.
From the Chron:
AUSTIN — Police say a man who thought his cousin owed him money was behind the abduction of the relatives 5-year-old son.
Modesto Vences-Garcia, 26, was charged with aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony. He could face up to life in prison, if convicted.
Investigators allege Vences-Garcia recruited four people, including two teens, to carry out the abduction of Adrian Jaimes.
Vences-Garcia’s cousin, Salvadore Hernandez, is the child’s father.
The kidnappers opened the door of the family’s car Thursday as the children’s mother was about to take them to school, police said.
The boy was found safe Thursday night in a North Austin neighborhood. Police said they believe public attention about the abduction pressured the abductors to drop off the child unharmed in a populated area.
Adrian’s 10-year-old sister was the initial target, police said. But the girl had recently reported that someone in a suspicious car had followed her to school, the Austin American-Statesman reported in its online edition Monday.
“We know this was motivated by money,” Austin police Cmdr. Julie O’Brien said. “He wanted a lot of money.”
O’Brien said Vences-Garcia told some associates he wanted $150,000 from the family. Police said a family member got two anonymous cell phone calls demanding $300,000 for the child’s safe return.
Police said it wasn’t clear why Vences-Garcia thought he was owed money.
Vences-Garcia was initially arrested on outstanding drug possession and drunken driving warrants. He also is accused of immigration violations.
Authorities also have charged Esau Alejandro Rodriguez-Flores, 17, and Hector Luis Hernandez, 19, with aggravated kidnapping. Two unidentified juveniles also have been charged.
Hernandez was being held on $500,000 bond Monday night in the Travis County Jail. It wasn’t immediately clear if he had an attorney.
Modesto Vences-Garcia has a long rap sheet. Of course kidnapping your cousin’s child for ransom is shocking even by American criminal standards. This sort of anarchy and warped justice being imported here is a problem that we must deal with now, or we will be dealing with it for a long time to come.