(BP) Agents Fired on During Capture (southern border)

Yuma Sun ^ | 2-24-04

[txdoda]

Feb 24, 2004

One or more shooters remained on the loose in Mexico Monday after firing on Border Patrol agents who had intercepted a load of illegal aliens being ferried across the Colorado River on an inflatable raft.

Multiple gunshots rang out and bullets whizzed over agents' heads as they were subduing the smuggler of the aliens at the river's edge near County 7th Street at 6:45 a.m., the patrol said. The gunfire was followed by one or more shots fired from an undetermined location on the U.S. side of the river.

No one was injured in the shooting, but agents reported that the shots fired from Mexico passed close overhead.

The gunfire prompted the Border Patrol to call in additional agents and aircraft to mount a search, which led to the arrests of dozens of illegal aliens hiding in brush along the river. Agents also seized three large rubber rafts that were being used to ferry the aliens across the river.

The patrol reported the incident to municipal police in Los Algodones, Baja, Calif., who conducted a sweep of the Mexican side of the river without turning up any suspects. Contacted later Monday afternoon, police in Algodones said they still had no one in custody in the shooting.

That shooting and an accident made for an eventful morning for Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents.

In the accident, two illegal aliens suffered minor injuries when the van in which they were riding skidded on a muddy shoulder alongside Avenue F at about 2:10 a.m. and turned over, Border Patrol spokesman Mike McGlasson said. They and two other aliens were taken into custody.

The shooting came after agents patrolling the river near County 7th Street saw one of the rafts carrying a load of aliens across the Colorado from Algodones. Agents were waiting for the raft as it approached the U.S. shore, and the smuggler jumped out of the craft and tried to flee but was chased down.

"He tried to fight with the agents and they subdued him and handcuffed him," McGlasson said. "At that point, they heard some yelling, some obscenities being shouted at them, followed by the gunfire. There was more than one shot, (but) I'm not sure how many."

The patrol was still investigating Monday afternoon who fired two or more shots from the U.S. side. McGlasson said it was not an agent.

"They (agents) couldn't find any expired cartridges or weapons," McGlasson said. "Basically in that area, it's very difficult to look for a weapon," owing to the heavy shoreline brush where a gun could be easily concealed.

The Border Patrol called in additional agents plus a patrol helicopter and fixed-winged aircraft to assist the agents who had been pinned by the shooting, McGlasson said.

Agents found and detained 36 aliens hiding in various brushy areas along the U.S. bank. The smugger had ferried one load of aliens across the river before being arrested, McGlasson said.

A second smuggler was identified among the group of 36, McGlasson said, and he and the first smuggler will face prosecution.

Overnight rains created muddy conditions that led to the rollover, McGlasson said. The van had picked up six to eight aliens near County 19th Street and U.S. Highway 95, and then had turned north on Avenue F when the emergency lights on a pursuing Border Patrol vehicle signaled it to stop, he said.

The van apparently lost control when it pulled onto the muddy shoulder while still traveling at a high rate of speed, as if dropping off the passengers so they could flee on foot, he said.

[Spiff]

Some "Homeland Security"........this makes several shootings since the first of the year.

Not since the first of the year. Just in the last week alone the bullets have been flying all along Arizona's border with Mexico. Naco. Douglas. Yuma. It is pure insanity and it is only getting worse.

[ApesForEvolution]

I'm so sick of this lax border cr@p that I could absolutely spit! This issue SHOULD unite a majority of Americans...but, for whom? Conservative elected LEADERS sure don't seem to GET IT.

[ApesForEvolution]

The people in this country that are undermining it are going to be a very, very sorry group someday. BLOAT

[sarasmom]

As if!

[GeronL]

The federal government has to enforce the border, or the people can do it for them.

[Liberty Valance]

The smugglers and illegals came from the Mexican side to the US side. The gunfire in question came from the US side. Messy situation.

[txdoda]

Not since the first of the year. Just in the last week alone the bullets have been flying all along Arizona's border with Mexico. Naco. Douglas. Yuma. It is pure insanity and it is only getting worse.>>>>>>>

You know, I almost stated in post # 1 that this was the 'weekly' thread for 'bullets at he borders'.

Guess the feds are too busy working on the gay issue to worry about shootings on the borders.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

:0) You'll have to forgive me. With my husband so ill, my brain is mush and I'm a little slow on the uptake.

[txdoda]

This issue SHOULD unite a majority of Americans...>>>>>>>

The polls I've seen, & the folks I know are UNITED about this immigration mess.

It's most of our 'electeds' that refuse to talk about it, & won't enforce our existing imm. laws.

[HiJinx]

The gunfire in question...

Read the article carefully. Gunfire originated on both sides of the river/border. The only question in the article was "who did the shooting from the U.S. side?"

[txdoda]

The smugglers and illegals came from the Mexican side to the US side. The gunfire in question came from the US side. Messy situation.>>>>>>>>


No, looks like shots came from BOTH sides of the border, which means it's getting a lot worse for our agents. (crossfire ??)


"Multiple gunshots rang out and bullets whizzed over agents' heads as they were subduing the smuggler of the aliens at the river's edge near County 7th Street at 6:45 a.m., the patrol said. The gunfire was followed by one or more shots fired from an undetermined location on the U.S. side of the river.

No one was injured in the shooting, but agents reported that the shots fired from Mexico passed close overhead."

[HiJinx]

[txdoda]

The only question in the article was "who did the shooting from the U.S. side?">>>>>>>>

Sounds like the 'US smuggler' also started shooting, as the article says no agents fired.

Guess Fox doesn't want our agents returning fire on his CRIMINALS.

[janetgreen]

What do Arizona's Senators and Representatives have to say about this outrage? Are they as quiet about it as our President is? I know that the Arizona Governor is useless. The network news won't mention it either. I sent the article to Bill O'Reilly, maybe he will. I also sent it to the President, for all the good that will do...

[hedgetrimmer]

I'd rather have it come from the people of California rather than the federal government. The California Coastal Commission was proven to be unConstitutional by the California State Supreme Court. Yet they have not been disbanded and continue to harm property owners in California in addition to placing legal burdens on everybody else that they really have no authority to do. But they get away with it because the people of California have an infinite patience with unconstitutional acts, it would seem.

[c-b 1]

No one was injured in the shooting, but agents reported that the shots fired from Mexico passed close overhead."

That is what the reports on the radio have been saying. Sadly it isn't getting as much media coverage locally as it should.

[ApesForEvolution]

I guess we'll find out at the only place it matters...once again, the ballot box. If the 'electeds' aren't going to do their job and uphold our borders and Constitution as well as culture, then a 'united' people wouldn't allow it to continue.

[ApesForEvolution]

If indeed the agency is repugnant to the State's Constitution, then it should be overcome by it's victims.