Mexican Teen's Family Sues US Border Agent

[sjr09 155]

The family of a Mexican teenager killed by a border patrol agent last summer is suing the U.S. government for $25 million in damages. (Houston Chronicle, January 17, 2011) The lawsuit, filed in El Paso earlier last week on behalf of the teenager's family, accuses the U.S. Border Patrol agent of wrongful death and civil rights violations. (Id.)

The lawsuit stems from an incident that took place on the border in June 2010 in which the U.S. Border Patrol agent shot and killed 15-yr-old Sergio Adrian Hernandez Guereca during the arrests of illegal aliens crossing the Rio Grande. (Id.) Border Patrol agents reported that Guereca was throwing rocks at them, to which agents are legally permitted respond by using lethal force. (Id.) The family's attorney, however, denies the teenager was throwing anything at the agent, instead claiming that the teen and his friends were running up to the barbed-wire U.S. border fence, touching it, then scampering away when a border agent detained one of the boys. (Id.) Federal records reveal that Guereca was arrested four times since 2008 on suspicion of smuggling illegal aliens across the U.S. border with Mexico, but he was never charged with a crime. (Id.)

Customs Enforcement (ICE) have noted that the rocks thrown at Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents are often large in size and capable of causing serious injury. The National Border Patrol Council –the union which represents CBP agents—reiterated that "rocks are weapons and constitute deadly force." (Washington Post, June 11, 2010)

[Glyn and Kathy 288]

Why am I not surprised?

[Ggreen 12]

(Id.) Border Patrol agents reported that Guereca was throwing rocks at them, to which agents are legally permitted respond by using lethal force. (Id.) The family's attorney, however, denies the teenager was throwing anything at the agent

Who is right?

[_Simpson_ 250]

The family's attorney, however, denies the teenager was throwing anything at the agent, instead claiming that the teen and his friends were running up to the barbed-wire U.S. border fence, touching it

So I should assume he is the one kid that wasnt throwing rocks...I think not!

If I remember correctly there was video footage of this and something to do with Mexican officials acting suspiciously, like covering up evidence.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

We had the East German border fence for decades. Everybody knew that if you climbed over it, you were running a risk to either get shot or to step on a land mine. And they just wanted to get out of their country, not invade another one!

All that's necessary at the four US border states is a bunch of signs telling invaders that if they climb over the fence and onto the soil of a foreign nation, they will run a risk of either being shot or to step on a land mine. In fact, CBP Officers should be allowed to use deadly force on any invader who is not immediately following commands, whether he throws rock at them or not.

If I had to vote on this as a US citizen, I would support it. I'm not supporting it because I have no compassion for poor people looking for a better life; I'm supporting it because the abuse of our court system by blood-sucking "personal injury" attorneys needs to be stopped.

Edited February 2, 2011 by Just Bob

[slim 1,514]

All that's necessary at the four US border states is a bunch of signs telling invaders

In English?

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

In English?

Of course.

Here's the sign:

DANGER!

WE SHOOT ON SIGHT!

Below the sketch of a Kalashnikov or Uzi.