Gunfire drives 8 Mexican police across border

El Paso Times ^ | February 14, 2004 | Louie Gilot

[FITZ]

Four Mexican police officers from Palomas are in the El Paso immigration detention center seeking asylum after they reportedly fled under heavy gunfire, U.S. officials said.

The saga started Tuesday night when a mob fired at the Mexican police station, about two blocks south of the international crossing between Palomas and the village of Columbus, N.M.

"My understanding is that the police officers came under gunfire by a drug-trafficking family," Columbus Police Chief Clare May said.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the checkpoint heard "a lot of gunfire" coming from south of the border shortly before 11 p.m., agency spokesman Roger Maier said.

"Moments later, 10 people arrived at the port of entry very much concerned about their safety," Maier said.

Among them were eight Palomas police officers, the wife of one officer and their child of 7 to 9 years old wrapped in a blanket, officials said. Some officers wore uniforms and others wore plain clothes. None were armed.

"They'd abandoned their weapons in Mexico before crossing the line," Maier said.

The Border Patrol took the officers to El Paso, where they were processed as undocumented immigrants. Four officers decided to return to Mexico, and four others applied for asylum, officials said.

The officers have requested legal help from Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, center officials said.

Experts in immigration law said the officers would have to demonstrate they are being persecuted by people whom the Mexican government cannot or will not control.

Mexican state judicial police said they will investigate the case.

[FITZ]

Things sure seem to be getting weird in Mexico.

[junta]

Chased over by the modern day Panchos.

[FITZ]

Mexican state judicial police said they will investigate the case.

And in Juarez it was the Chihuahua judiciales with the bodies buried in the backyard.

[DumpsterDiver]

Things sure seem to be getting weird in Mexico.

Let's make that: "Things sure seem to be getting weirder in Mexico." But, not to worry. The last sentence in the article clearly states:

"Mexican state judicial police said they will investigate the case."

See? Things will be taken care of, it will be investigated, case closed.

[holymoly]

It's a ruse to get "asylum".

[FITZ]

True --- it's case-closed but you can bet there will be some more executions --- the drug lords have a pretty good war going on and the police are often working for one side.

[FITZ]

Probably --- many of the Mexican mafia are moving to the USA because things are getting pretty unsafe over there --- they're just bringing what they brought about over to this side. We'll give them asylum and then read about the entire family executed in some shoot-out in some USA city.

[DumpsterDiver]

True --- it's case-closed but you can bet there will be some more executions

In case you didn't catch it, in my post #4 I was being sarcastic. I expect things to get worse both in Mexico and here.

[FITZ]

You're right though --- it is "case-closed" on the official level --- the judiciales aren't going to shut down crime rings. They'll "settle" this on their own later.

[razorback-bert]

I visited Big Bend National Park this last week and the Boquillas and Latitas crossings were closed. The Border Patrol has big sheds and modular offices at the old shade tree checkpoints.

[NerdDad]

Wife and I have certainly enjoyed the pics you've been sending us. Makes me miss my West Texas home.

[RIGHT IN LAS VEGAS]

Among them were eight Palomas police officers, the wife of one officer and their child of 7 to 9 years old "wrapped in a blanket", officials said

.......a new burrito I presume

[Travis McGee]

Ya gettin in a little shootin?