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INVESTIGATION INTO BEATING OF MIGRANTS EXPANDS
Police have arrested seven teenage boys in connection with the beating of five migrant workers outside San Diego earlier this month.  Prosecutors say that the boys, aged 14 to 17, will be tried as adults under a new California law.  They have been charged with assault, robber, hate crimes, and elder abuse.  All of their victims were over 60.  According to police, the boy, all of whom are white, beat the migrants, who were all Hispanic, because they did not like Mexicans.  The beatings occurred on July 5th.  The migrants were beaten with blunt objects and shot with pellet guns.

Police have recovered many of the instruments used in the beatings, including a pitchfork, a metal pipe and a steel bar.  Evidence also showed that one of the victims was chased, dragged into bushes and beaten.  Bloodstains were found all around the scene.

Activists have used the incident to call for more protection of migrants.  They say that migrants are routinely harassed and threatened.  Police patrols of the area where the beatings occurred have been increased.  Also, a full-time liaison with the migrant community has been stationed in the area.

Authorities are investigating whether the beating death a few days before this attack is related.  In the earlier attack, a 17-year-old boy who acted as a broker between migrants and employers was beaten to death near the location of the other attacks.
 
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