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INS confirms border incident with Mexico
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
INS confirms border incident with Mexico
By Bill McAllister
Denver Post Washington Bureau Chief
Wednesday, May 22, 2002 - WASHINGTON - Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., accused the Mexican army Tuesday of staging a "military incursion" Friday night into southern Arizona that ended with Mexican soldiers firing shots at a U.S. Border Patrol vehicle.
Lori Haley, an Immigration and Naturalization spokeswoman, confirmed that an incident occurred in a remote area near Ajo, Ariz.
A U.S. agent spotted three Mexican soldiers in a Mexican Humvee on U.S. soil and was attempting to leave the area when the rear window of his vehicle was apparently shattered by gunfire, she said. The agent was leaving the area "in an effort to avoid a confrontation" with the Mexicans, she said.
"Because of the seriousness of the incident" Haley said, U.S. authorities launched a formal investigation and are asking Mexican authorities to do the same.
The Mexican government previously has rejected Tancredo's charges that Mexican police and military units frequently cross the border. Tancredo, who leads a group of lawmakers opposed to liberalizing immigration laws, has said U.S. officials believe the incursions are related to drug trafficking.
The Republican from Littleton said he fears gunplay between U.S. and Mexican authorities unless officials stop the incursions. "Unless we open our eyes and recognize that what's happening along the U.S.-Mexico border is real, one of our guys is going to get killed," he said.
The INS confirmed the incident, but Tancredo's version differed somewhat. He said 10 soldiers were involved and the shot damaged more than the Border Patrol's rear window. He also said the Mexicans came 10 miles into the U.S before they were spotted.
Tancredo said U.S. agents believe the shots were fired because Mexican authorities were pursuing drug dealers into the U.S.
"They are saying they had interdicted a huge shipment of drugs," he said. "Therefore everyone was antsy."
But "regardless of the circumstances, they had happy trigger fingers," he said.
The U.S. vehicle was "clearly marked" and should have been recognizable, he said.
The agent told him, " "As far as I am concerned, that (incursion) should be an act of war,' " Tancredo said.
On May 3, Tancredo wrote Mexican President Vicente Fox demanding that he halt "incursions" by Mexican law enforcement officers into the U.S.
Fox didn't respond.
http://www.denverpost.com/framework/0,1918,36~53~626846~,00.html
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
By Bill McAllister
Denver Post Washington Bureau Chief
Wednesday, May 22, 2002 - WASHINGTON - Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., accused the Mexican army Tuesday of staging a "military incursion" Friday night into southern Arizona that ended with Mexican soldiers firing shots at a U.S. Border Patrol vehicle.
Lori Haley, an Immigration and Naturalization spokeswoman, confirmed that an incident occurred in a remote area near Ajo, Ariz.
A U.S. agent spotted three Mexican soldiers in a Mexican Humvee on U.S. soil and was attempting to leave the area when the rear window of his vehicle was apparently shattered by gunfire, she said. The agent was leaving the area "in an effort to avoid a confrontation" with the Mexicans, she said.
"Because of the seriousness of the incident" Haley said, U.S. authorities launched a formal investigation and are asking Mexican authorities to do the same.
The Mexican government previously has rejected Tancredo's charges that Mexican police and military units frequently cross the border. Tancredo, who leads a group of lawmakers opposed to liberalizing immigration laws, has said U.S. officials believe the incursions are related to drug trafficking.
The Republican from Littleton said he fears gunplay between U.S. and Mexican authorities unless officials stop the incursions. "Unless we open our eyes and recognize that what's happening along the U.S.-Mexico border is real, one of our guys is going to get killed," he said.
The INS confirmed the incident, but Tancredo's version differed somewhat. He said 10 soldiers were involved and the shot damaged more than the Border Patrol's rear window. He also said the Mexicans came 10 miles into the U.S before they were spotted.
Tancredo said U.S. agents believe the shots were fired because Mexican authorities were pursuing drug dealers into the U.S.
"They are saying they had interdicted a huge shipment of drugs," he said. "Therefore everyone was antsy."
But "regardless of the circumstances, they had happy trigger fingers," he said.
The U.S. vehicle was "clearly marked" and should have been recognizable, he said.
The agent told him, " "As far as I am concerned, that (incursion) should be an act of war,' " Tancredo said.
On May 3, Tancredo wrote Mexican President Vicente Fox demanding that he halt "incursions" by Mexican law enforcement officers into the U.S.
Fox didn't respond.
http://www.denverpost.com/framework/0,1918,36~53~626846~,00.html
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Comments
Shooting at a plainly marked Border Patrol vehicle demands a better explaination, and at a higher level, than what is happening here. If they caught drug trafficers on our side of the border, they they should properly should have turned everthing to US authorities.
Either the Mexican story isn't true (very high likelyhood) or they don't know a thing about the law.
It is common knowledge that Mexican regular army is assisting whom ever is the highest bidder.
Margaret Thatcher
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
Mark Twain
When Clinton left office they gave him a 21 gun salute. Its a damn shame they all missed....
aguncollector@yahoo.com
"Respect my authority"
Shoot straight!
I need practice on moving targets, I'll volenteer!
"Respect my authority"
Shoot straight!
Shoot straight!
Someone will have to get killed before anyone will do anything (thats how things work here).
Is our government protecting us? NO! Not with open borders.
"Respect my authority"
killed in one of these incidents.If not,I wonder if they'd get
involved if a U.S.citizen Killed a Mexican soldier in self-defense.
Who would be blamed?As members of the unorganized militia,is it
not our duty to defend our borders as well?Is a border incursion
an offense against our personal,as well as,our national security?
Not trying to stir anything up,just askin':)
Shoot straight!
watering stations will have to double as toilets.
Shoot straight!
If I'm wrong please correct me, I won't be offended.