Mexican Government Outraged by Outcome of Illegal Alien Attack on Border Patrol Agents

An interesting post from www.FAIRUS.org about a Border Patrol shooting.This follows this post about the 2010 Census and this post about the MURDER of ROBERT KRENTZ, who the protestors and boycotters won't give a solution for, but will call Americans racist for trying to prevent another MURDER, and this post which shows that there are 30,000 openly illegal immigrants in the border town of El Paso across from the recent Juarez shooting. For more interesting stories like this click here to follow this blog.

Mexican Government Outraged by Outcome of Illegal Alien Attack on Border Patrol Agents
A Border Patrol agent shot a Mexican teenager last week after he came under attack by rock-throwing aliens attempting to illegally cross the border into El Paso, Texas. (The New York Times, June 8, 2010). Mexican authorities were quick to condemn the incident, which is being investigated by the FBI, even blaming Arizona’s new immigration enforcement law, though it has not yet taken effect. Id. But American officials described the shooting as an act of self-defense. According to the FBI, several agents encountered a group of suspected illegal aliens entering the United States. After two suspects were arrested, the others fled just across the border and began throwing rocks at the agents. One agent shouted at the men to “stop and retreat,” but they continued to pummel him with rocks, said Andrea Simmons, a special agent with the FBI in El Paso. (Los Angeles Times, June 9, 2010). He then fired several shots, “striking one subject who later died.” Id.
Hernandez Huereca’s family claims he was not one of the rock-throwers, but simply watching from the sidelines. But it has been reported that he was a known human smuggler who was arrested in 2009 for the same crime he was allegedly engaged in at the time of the shooting, attempting to smuggle aliens into the United States. (Examiner, June 11, 2010). Moreover, the teen was also on the most wanted list of juvenile smugglers in the El Paso area. Id. A source told Fox News that “He is a known juvenile smuggler.” (Fox News, June 9, 2010).
Such encounters are not uncommon, as Border Patrol agents face hundreds of rock attacks during its patrols in this high-crime area. United States Customs and Border Protection spokesman Mark Qualia described the severity of these incidents, “There’s a misperception people have that we’re having pebbles thrown at us. They are stones the size of baseballs in some cases or half a brick. You can’t take this lightly.” (The New York Times, June 8, 2010). As agents were trying to investigate the scene just after the shooting, Mexican federal police pointed rifles at them and chased them out of the area as a crowd on the Mexican side of the border taunted the U.S. officials and threw rocks and firecrackers. (Associated Press, June 11, 2010).
Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinsa said, “We firmly repudiate and reject the violent actions by U.S. authorities in the last few days that have led to the deaths of Mexican citizens." (Los Angeles Times, June 9, 2010). Mexican President Felipe Calderon sated, "The government of Mexico will use all means available to protect the rights of Mexican migrants. Mexico also rejects the use of disproportionate force by U.S. immigration authorities along the border." Id. Some Mexican politicians have even suggested that the agent be extradited to face Mexican justice. (Associated Press, June 11, 2010). However, Border Patrol agents are allowed to use lethal force against rock-throwers. Id.
This marks the second death of a Mexican national during an altercation with the U.S. Border Patrol in the last two weeks, and the Mexican government has accused agents of using excessive force. (Los Angeles Times, June 9, 2010). The other incident occurred after border agents shot a 42-year-old man with a Taser stun gun at the border crossing between San Diego and Tijuana. He was being deported when he became combative and resisted, wrestling two agents to the ground after they removed his handcuffs. The San Diego County medical examiner’s office ruled his death a homicide but also found “acute methamphetamine intoxication.” Id. The cause of death was determined to be a heart attack, with methamphetamine abuse and hypertension listed as contributing factors. (Associated Press, June 2, 2010). Hernandez was previously deported on May 25, but was arrested by Border Patrol after illegally reentering the United States. Id.
Mexican President Calderon postured, “We are worried by this surge of violence against Mexicans,” but made no mention of the 1,000 plus assaults against Border Patrol agents in each of the last two years in the area where the shooting occurred. (Associated Press, June 11, 2010; Los Angeles Times, June 9, 2010).