Posted on 01/29/2006 6:53:25 AM PST by SwinneySwitch
Expect more violence as officers move into more areas along the border, said the national chief of CBP Border Patrol during a Saturday visit to Laredo.
Chief David Aguilar visited Laredo to address concerns raised by recent instances of violence against Border Patrol agents. He said assaults on agents in the Laredo sector are occurring at a record pace.
As more agents get assigned to the border, the Border Patrol is taking control of areas that have been historically used by criminal gangs who are reluctant to give them up, Aguilar said.
Danger to agents will continue to increase until those areas are secure, he said.
Border Patrol and other law enforcement encountered smugglers with military-style equipment Monday in Hudspeth County. Later in the week, customs officials discovered 2 tons of marijuana inside a tunnel running from a warehouse in Tijuana to one in San Diego.
Mexican and U.S. officials at the highest levels of government are dealing with the Hudspeth incident, Aguilar said.
In Laredo, the Border Patrol reported shootings across the river on Sunday and Thursday, but the agents involved were not certain if they were being shot at.
Last weeks incidents are still under investigation, but information will be forthcoming, Border Patrol officials said.
Aguilar said there were at least two assaults on agents in Laredo last week, and there have been 10 since the beginning of the fiscal year in October.
The Laredo sector saw only six assaults in all of fiscal year 2004, and there were 19 assaults in fiscal year 2005, he said.
It is thanks to Border Patrol and other local law enforcement that Laredo is still a safe place compared to Nuevo Laredo, Aguilar said.
"I want to clarify this because I think Laredo has gotten a black eye," he said.
But the trend of attacks on Border Patrol agents is happening across the entire border, he said.
"Violence is part of our everyday life," Aguilar said. "It is still unacceptable."
In the western region of the border, new terms are emerging for types of assault that agents havent seen before, such as "flaming rocks," Aguilar said. Flaming rocks are stones covered with burning cloth hurled at agents.
The violence can even be seen as a measure of success, Aguilar said, because it shows the Border Patrol is moving into more areas controlled by gangs.
Eventually, the gangs will give up when the areas have adequate officer resources, but until then it will be dangerous for law enforcement, Aguilar said.
When agents are faced with shooting at the border, they might shoot back if necessary, Aguilar said. There have been no changes in the agencys lethal force procedures.
"The safety of our officers is paramount," Aguilar said.
He noted that in one of the weeks assaults in Laredo, agents never fired a shot.
Although smugglers are using heavy military equipment, it should never get to the point where the Border Patrol has to take on similar equipment, Aguilar said.
"We know whats coming at us," he said.
The incident in Hudspeth County occurred at a well-known crossing point, Aguilar said.
He said Friday that he was unsure if the suspected smugglers were Mexican soldiers, as the Hudspeth County sheriff had claimed.
Regardless of how they were dressed, the men are criminals who wont be tolerated, Aguilar said.
Despite the danger, the Border Patrol nets huge amounts of drugs each year and makes many arrests, he said.
"Absolutely we are in much better shape than prior to Sept. 11," Aguilar said.
(Clay Reddick may be reached at 728-2582 or clay@lmtonline.com.)
Paging President Bush, Sec, Chertoff, US Senators and Governors!
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list
Absolute, patented, unadulterated Bovine Excrement.
Better late than never, but I'll never understand why the border situation has gotten this bad. It had better improve before the next election or the Republicans are going to get the blame. This is one area that is "Bush's fault"
This made me think of little yellow ducks with bulls-eyes on them in a carnival shooting gallery.
It's time to evaluate whether or not Mexico really is an ally, or even a free country, and plan accordingly.
"moving into gang controlled areas?"
Just how much of the Mex. border has been controlled by gangs all these years? And, why? Who's policy was that?
Get the US military to the border NOW!
Build the wall over the entire Mex. border!
Remove the 11 million or more illegals from our homeland NOW!
END OF PROBLEM
WHAT PART OF THAT ABOVE DON'T THE U.S. CONGRESS UNDERSTAND?
Count on it, a Mexican soldier will shoot and kill one or more US border agents in an incident they can't sweep under the rug. Mexicans have contempt for the US vis a vis border control, and why not? They think they have a not so secret arrangement to 'integrate' with the US, and on their terms. Well, the border problem will be huge in '08, and maybe in '06 if we have a few more gunfights.
And/or a $100 bounty per wetback scalp.
As soon as the bounty is in force, we get to go hunting!
(sharpening scalping knife).
As I recall, the Japanese were reluctant to give up Iwo Jima a few decades ago. I believe the solution was to send some United States Marine Corps diplomats in to discuss the matter. And I believe the Japanese were convinced to turn the island over the the United States.
All we really need to do on our southern border, is exactly what the Mexican Government does on their southern border - shoot anyone illegally entering the USA - the Mexican Government shoots anyone crossing their southern border - just ask a Hunduran, or any other South American citizen!
"Although smugglers are using heavy military equipment, it should never get to the point where the Border Patrol has to take on similar equipment, Aguilar said.
Regardless of how they were dressed, the men are criminals who wont be tolerated, Aguilar said"
When you're out gunned you're going to do a whole lot of toleratin'.
ping
"....but I'll never understand why the border situation has gotten this bad."
There are still many people here, including S. Texas, who do not think this is a problem. Go figure.
Seems to me that the Government was out gunned at WACO Texas against Americans, and were burned to death, every man women and child without any concern for their lives!
Why in the hell are the border patrol worried about being out gunned by a bunch of gangs, and criminals in the Mexican Government? They are invading the sovereign Government of the United States of America, I don't know about other Countries, but, that has always been declared an act of war! Why are we just blowing it off and making all of these excuses? We need to treat it as it is! An act of war, and mobilize for same.
To little too late. It's a very good bet MS-13 long ago smullgled MANPADS into the US for the moslem scum.
Won't work..they would send small children in first and get them blown up and then there would be worldwide outrage........against us!!!
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