Mexicans seething over Border Patrol killing of teen

[peejay 327]

Mexicans seething over Border Patrol killing of teen

By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN and OLIVIA TORRES Associated Press

June 9, 2010, 8:22AM

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico — Mexicans are seething over the second death of a countryman at the hands of U.S. Border Patrol agents in two weeks, an incident near downtown El Paso that is threatening to escalate tensions over migrant issues.

U.S. authorities said Tuesday a Border Patrol agent was defending himself and colleagues when he fatally shot the 15-year-old as officers came under a barrage of big stones while trying to detain illegal immigrants on the U.S. side of the Rio Grande.

About 30 relatives and friends gathered late Tuesday to mourn Sergio Adrian Hernandez Huereka, whose shooting Monday evening came along the border with Texas. He died on the Mexican side of the river.

"Damn them! Damn them!" sobbed Rosario Hernandez, sister of the dead teenager, at a wake in the family's two-room adobe house on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez.

Preliminary reports on the incident indicated that U.S. officers on bicycle patrol "were assaulted with rocks by an unknown number of people," Border Patrol Special Operations Supervisor Ramiro Cordero said Tuesday.

"During the assault at least one agent discharged his firearm," he said. "The agent is currently on administrative leave. A thorough, multi-agency investigation is currently ongoing."

The shooting happened beneath a railroad bridge linking the two nations, and late Tuesday night a banner appeared on the bridge that said in English: "U.S. Border Patrol we worry about the violence in Mex and murders and now you. Viva Mexico!"

Less than two weeks ago, Mexican migrant Anastasio Hernandez, 32, died after a Customs and Border Protection officer shocked him with a stun gun at the San Ysidro border crossing that separates San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico. The San Diego medical examiner's office ruled that death a homicide.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon said Tuesday that his government "will use all resources available to protect the rights of Mexican migrants."

The government "reiterates its rejection to the disproportionate use of force on the part on U.S. authorities on the border with Mexico," the president added in a statement.

On an unpaved street, gathered around Hernandez's gray metal casket, the teen's family called for justice.

"There is a God, so why would I want vengeance if no one will return him to me. They killed my little boy and the only thing I ask is for the law" to be applied, said the boy's father, Jesus Hernandez.

His mother was less hopeful. "May God forgive them because I know nothing will happen" to them, Maria Guadalupe Huereka said.

Above the casket was a photo of the youth wearing his soccer uniform and his junior high school grade cards, which showed A's and B's.

His mother said he was a good student who never got in trouble. He was the youngest of five children, played on two soccer teams and had just finished junior high school, she said.

The case took a testy turn when U.S. and Mexican officials traded suggestions of misconduct in the incident.

Arturo Sandoval, a spokesman for the Chihuahua state Attorney General's office, said a spent .40-caliber shell casing was found near the body — raising the question of whether the fatal shot was fired inside Mexico, although he did not explicitly make that allegation. That would violate the rules for Border Patrol agents, who are supposed to stay on the U.S. side of the border.

A U.S. official, meanwhile, said video shows the Border Patrol agent did not enter Mexico.

The official, who agreed to discuss the matter only if not quoted by name, said the video also shows what seem to be four Mexican law enforcement officers driving to the edge of the dry but muddy bed of the Rio Grande, walking across to the U.S. side, picking up an undetermined object and returning to Mexico near the area where the boy's body was. Like their U.S. counterparts, Mexican law officers are not authorized to cross the border without permission.

According to the FBI, Border Patrol agents were responding to a group of suspected illegal immigrants being smuggled into the U.S. near the Paso Del Norte bridge, across from Ciudad Juarez around 6:30 p.m. Monday.

One suspected illegal immigrant was detained on the levee on the U.S. side, the FBI said in a statement. Another Border Patrol agent arrived on the concrete bank where the now-dry, 33-foot (10-meter) wide Rio Grande is, and detained a second person. Other suspects ran back into Mexico and began throwing rocks, the FBI said.

At least one rock came from behind the agent, who was kneeling beside a suspected illegal immigrant whom he had prone on the ground, FBI spokeswoman Andrea Simmons said.

The agent told the rock throwers to stop and back off, but they continued. The agent fired his weapon several times, hitting one who later died, said the FBI, which is leading the investigation because it involved an assault on a federal officer. The agent was not injured, Simmons said.

Chihuahua state officials released a statement demanding a full investigation into the death.

The boy was shot once near the eye, Sandoval said. Authorities were still investigating the bullet's trajectory, he said.

Sandoval said he couldn't comment on the video reported by the U.S. official because he didn't know anything about it. "I am unaware about those hypotheses," he said.

Sandoval said Mexican investigators were questioning three teenagers who were with the victim at the time of the shooting.

The boy's sister, Rosario, told Associated Press Television News that her brother was playing with several friends and did not plan to cross the border.

"They say that they started firing from over there and suddenly hit him in the head," she said.

The boy's mother said he had gone to eat with his brother, who handles luggage at a border customs office. While there, he met up with a group of friends and they decided to hang out by the river, she said.

"That was his mistake, to have gone to the river," she said in an interview with Mexico's Milenio TV. "That's why they killed him."

Mexico's Foreign Relations Department said its records indicate the number of Mexicans killed or wounded by U.S. immigration authorities rose from five in 2008 to 12 in 2009 to 17 so far this year, which is not half over.

T.J. Bonner, president of the union representing Border Patrol agents, said rock throwing aimed at Border Patrol agents is common and capable of causing serious injury.

"It is a deadly force encounter, one that justifies the use of deadly force," Bonner said.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7043800.html

[jimnlena 8]

Mexican President Felipe Calderon said Tuesday that his government "will use all resources available to protect the rights of Mexican migrants."

Wouldn't it be nicer if he tried to create jobs at home??

[Darnell 8,478]

Mexican Migrant? Nah, that's an illegal alien.

Maybe it's time to replace the hardware for the bike patrol, to shoot rubber bullets, though, with some fire-arms training for 'shoot out the kneecap'... Maybe...

[peejay 327]

Mexican President Felipe Calderon said Tuesday that his government "will use all resources available to protect the rights of Mexican migrants."

Wouldn't it be nicer if he tried to create jobs at home??

Why waste your own resources creating jobs and taking care of your own people when you can just habitually dump your poverty and unemployment on the USA to deal with?

And he will use all resources available to assist Mexican migrants to illegally immigrate to the USA too.

What else is new?

Including our own government's lame and half azzed efforts to secure the border and deter illegal immigration into the USA. No hope and change going on there. Was anyone stupid enough to believe there would be?

[SMOKE 1,426]

shooting someone throwing at you rocks does seem a tad bit excessive.

i'd like to ask mexican president felipe calderon, what would your border patrol have done differently to protect the rights of a migrant guatemalan illegal entering your country & throwing rocks at them?

[evli1966 88]

As horrible as this incident is and I do feel for the family. I hope like anyone else this never happens to anyone.

Law Enforcement are allowed to use force when threatened and if this boy were a US citizen the same reult would have happened.

Time will tell when all the evidence is gathered.

Also if they were just playing at the river then this shows a fence is needed that way if they do cross it then they cross it with a purpose.

The Mexico President need to keep the people there not here and stop promoting illegal immigration.

Lets see him rattle his sabre in his country and try to make a move on the US with force the country has done it several time before and their wee wee was slapped in the dirt.

Although he might be watching "Red Dawn" and think he has friends that will help them this time.

[justashooter 430]

Mexican Migrant? Nah, that's an illegal alien.

Maybe it's time to replace the hardware for the bike patrol, to shoot rubber bullets, though, with some fire-arms training for 'shoot out the kneecap'... Maybe...

the statute is quite clear. you are able to meet deadly force with deadly force. deadly force can be a gun, or a knife, or thrown rocks, or a baseball bat, or a guy who is bigger than you and has stated intent to kill you with his hands.

[CDAgirlMI 51]

Mexican President Felipe Calderon said Tuesday that his government "will use all resources available to protect the rights of Mexican migrants."

People trying to illegally enter the US have NO rights.

Someone can be seriously injured or killed by a rock to the head. I think the BP did the right thing.

[Captain Oates 910]

People trying to illegally enter the US have NO rights.

This is a common mis-perception

All humans have rights in the U.S.A and these are recognized by the 14th amendment. I was told that as an Alien, I had no right to own a firearm in Washington State but the NRA took it to court and the court said that an Alien like me has equal rights under the 14th - and so now I have 7 firearms.

For instance it would be illegal to kneel an illegal immigrant and shoot them in the back of the head - that is because they DO have rights and it isn't just police regulations.

I have noticed that the most nationalistic of Americans are also those who don't know their own constitution

If I was being pelted with big stones by a large crowd then I would feel justified in firing a warning round followed by an aimed round if necessary.

If some kid was throwing pebbles at me, I would not feel justified in firing

The investigation will have to determine which one of these was the case

In addition to this, I would have thought that common decency and the highly probable professed religion of people in this country would not lead to people saying that a fellow human had no rights and could be killed

No rights indeed - that phrase makes my blood boil !

Let's wait for the enquiry and some facts...

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I have noticed that the most nationalistic of Americans are also those who don't know their own constitution

Ain't that the truth.

[^_^ 5,021]

If some kid was throwing pebbles at me, I would not feel justified in firing

The pebble could be coated with poison. You just don't know before the pebble hits you. Do you wait for the pebble to hit you or do you shoot? In the absence of data regarding the pebble itself, you must shoot. It's the only way.

[evli1966 88]

I have noticed that the most nationalistic of Americans are also those who don't know their own constitution

Ain't that the truth.

Not neccesarily the truth.

Most people who you are now calling Nationalistic know the constitution and are tired of how it is being used against us.

We amended the constituion to control LEGAL IMMIGRATION and know propenents of ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION use it against us.

It is time to close the loop holes that allow the ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS free riegn into the USA.

Call me what you will; but those who see this are the majority of citizens, legal immigrants and legal residents and this is growing.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Most people who you are now calling Nationalistic know the constitution and are tired of how it is being used against us.

The Constitution is being used against you? That sounds like resentment of our beloved U.S. Constitution.

[Captain Oates 910]

I have noticed that the most nationalistic of Americans are also those who don't know their own constitution

Not neccesarily the truth.

Most people who you are now calling Nationalistic know the constitution and are tired of how it is being used against us.

We amended the constituion to control LEGAL IMMIGRATION and know propenents of ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION use it against us.

It is time to close the loop holes that allow the ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS free riegn into the USA.

Call me what you will; but those who see this are the majority of citizens, legal immigrants and legal residents and this is growing.

As a legal alien who went through incredibly difficult problems to immigrate (as did we all), I am very anti illegal immigration.

However, when I become a citizen, I will be a decent law abiding citizen who does not agree with lynchings and extra-legal killings and I will insist on both American law enforcement and the Military, acting with human decency as well as legality

I understand that the right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness as expressed in the declaration of independence was not repeated in the constitution, but I don't understand how that is being used against you or is in some way a weakness. If applying the constitution is seen as an inconvenience or a hindrance to brutalising brown skinned illegals, then that would be a great disappointment to the founding fathers.

Insisting that brown non citizens have no rights and can be treated in any way the officer feels like at the time, is about the most Un-American, unconstitutional thing that anyone can say, and if I said it in my citizenship interview, I would be denied.

..

[Heracles 417]

The Constitution is being used against you? That sounds like resentment of our beloved U.S. Constitution.

You are starting to sound more and more like some extreme leftist idiot.

It's also why the second someone challenges your opinions and asks you questions about them, you seem to run off and claim you are being attacked.

Edited June 9, 2010 by Booyah!