Chandra Levy’s illegal alien killer on trial… finally

Washington, D.C. intern Chandra Levy became a posthumous celebrity when the 24 years old vanished nine years ago and whose remains were eventually found by police. Now the man -- an illegal alien from El Salvador -- accused of her abduction and murder faces a judge and jury.

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Jury selection in the trial of suspect Ingmar Guandique started on Monday morning and continues. He faces murder, kidnapping, and several other charges. Police and prosecutors allege that Guandique attacked Levy as she was jogging alone in 2001. The Chandra Levy mystery ignited a months-long media feeding frenzy especially when it was discovered that she was linked to then-California Congressman Gary Condit. Investigators dropped their case against Condit and no longer believe he was involved in her death. The Chandra Levy case originally received so much media attention that she became a household name in May 2001. In January 2009, while the news media continued their fascination with this case, they had -- for the most part -- failed to identify the suspect as an illegal alien already locked up in prison for previous attacks on American women, preferring to call him an immigrant or a Salvadorian National. The irony of the Chandra Levy murder case is the fact that the biggest murder case in the new millennium was a homicide committed by an illegal alien. "The media frenzy seemed to end abruptly once it was discovered Levy's killer wasn't a powerful white guy in Washington, but a criminal alien with a history of preying on women," said former police detective Mike Snopes. "The fact is that many of the predators in the U.S. are illegal aliens. They prey on women and children throughout the nation," said the decorated detective. When the National Association of Former Border Patrol Agents released their position paper on all aspects of the illegal immigration issue, most media outlets either yawned or suppressed the report. Over 250 former Border Patrol members of all ranks signed the document, which received scant mention by the mainstream news media. The position paper addressed amnesty and guest worker programs, securing the US borders, sanctions against employers of illegal aliens, and condemnation of political leaders who subvert and undermine the efforts of the US Border Patrol. "The nation has made demonstrable mistakes in the past in its efforts to control immigration. Let us, who were there to see them, remind the nation of the outcome and make suggestions for change," said Kent Lundgren, coordinator for the NAFBA. Their position on illegal immigration begins with a strong border security initiative including what they termed "meaningful processes for screening those who wish to enter [the United States] legally." "We believe that aliens residing in the United States must be here with the nation's permission or they should leave or be removed," they wrote. When it comes to any type of amnesty program, the former Border Patrol agents were blunt and succinct: "We absolutely oppose any legislation that would allow aliens to remain in this country who have entered illegally or who have entered legally and remained here illegally." The agents have little sympathy for employers who violate US immigration and labor laws. They stated that the current laws "presently on the books are adequate tools for the purpose" of enforcing sanctions on businesses caught employing illegal aliens. Their use, however, has been "subverted to meaninglessness through political and legal pressure initiated by those who benefit from the presence of illegal aliens." The former agents believe that a statement of purpose from Congress and "clear direction" from the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice is vital to enforcing these laws. But the agents are not inflexible. They believe a Guest Worker Program, if limited and tightly controlled would be feasible. However, unlike many political leaders, the agents condemn efforts to allow those aliens living in the US illegally to participate in any guest worker program proposed by Congress. The ideas and opinions contained in the former Border Patrol Agents' position paper coincides with those of Border agents currently deployed. The failure of the 1986 amnesty is best demonstrated by the fact that we can now reflect on it twenty years later and we see that the illegal immigration problem is much worse, they wrote. "If we are to have any hope of curtailing illegal immigration into this country we must begin enforcing the laws, which includes providing Border Patrol agents with the manpower, tools, equipment, and infrastructure we so desperately need to perform our jobs properly. We believe that without question, Randy Graf understands the problem and is the right person to help see this job through in the United States Congress." One can only wonder if the Chandra Levy case will encourage our political leaders -- including President Barack Obama -- to wake-up and protect American citizens from criminal invaders.