Border Patrol Attacks On Civilians

RandR · Posted: 20 Dec 2007 04:34 PM Post subject: Border Patrol Attacks On Civilians

I heard a report on the radio today that there have been several complaints made by folks living along the Mexican side of the TJ/SD border that they have had their homes and families attacked by BP agents. The attacks have included the use of tear gas in homes with children and have been in response to rock throwing. Has anyone heard of this type of thing happening here in Calecia/Mexicali?

BTW here's the link if you want to read or listen to the report yourself: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17452641

locoinclx · Posted: 20 Dec 2007 05:05 PM Post subject:

I have this weird idea that CBP agents could have not been responsible for raids in Mexico. There would be a lot of laws that would have to be broken in order for that to happen. Now these guys could have been working along side with the Mexican authorities, but god know that if that where the case, we would have already heard about. (those "Federales" sure like to brag about those type of things!) I've heard of CBP guys sometimes forget where the line is and they accidentally cross it while in pursuit of people, but those guys know better than to raid a house... I think the CBP especially would be scared to death about getting caught...

AikiMike · Posted: 20 Dec 2007 07:32 PM Post subject:

From what's being reported here in the San Diego region, there have been complaints filed by Mexican officials that say BP agents have fired weapons and tear gas across the border in response to rock throwing incidents and similar things. So far I haven't seen or heard anything to imply that they have physically crossed the border on raids. Actually crossing the border south would be a serious problem on many levels; diplomatic, legal, and if caught, would probably result in a looooong sentence in Mexico. The authorities down there have no tolerance for US agents being armed in Mexico.

elchrist · Posted: 21 Dec 2007 02:01 PM Post subject:

I really don't think CBP agents are THAT stupid to do this. Although when you have little desmadrosos across the border hurling rocks and obscenities at you, it could get very tempting.

I hope CBP agents did NOT do this. This just causes more hatred towards us civilians and potentially puts us at risk when we cross into Mexico.

AikiMike · Posted: 23 Dec 2007 12:31 PM Post subject:

There was a letter to the editor of the SD Union/Tribune yesterday written by the SD BP Sector Chief discussing this issue. He wrote that he has authorized the use of less than lethal weapons to return fire. He did not discuss what he meant by less than lethal, but my take was that he was talking about bean bag rounds, paint ball guns, and tear gas agents. He described the threat to agents as including ball bearings being fired from sling shots. Frankly I think I would personally up the ante if I were being shot at by sling shots and ball bearings - those can be lethal at the worst and career threatening as well. Seems like a measured response until the Mexican authorities can arrive on scene and take action. There still have been no mention of cross-border raids by CBP personnel in the local media. If it has happened, or is happening, the local media would jump on it immediately so I suspect there have been no raids as previously described here.