This is a picture of the foot bridge (adjacent to the traffic bridge).
For more info about this bridge, see texasmexicobridges.com
Posted on 02/25/2008 10:57:43 AM PST by SwinneySwitch
PROGRESO —- An armed squad of Mexican men in military uniforms walked a blindfolded captive to the middle of the Progreso International Bridge in broad daylight on Feb. 13, crossed the international boundary to the U.S. side, sat the man on the guardrail and then pushed him off, according to a group of Winter Texans returning from a shopping trip to Mexico.
One member of a South Dakota family of three who witnessed the events took shapshots that show armed men in military-style clothing standing on the U.S. side of the bridge’s border marker. The family says one photograph shows a blindfolded man up on the rail moments before he was pushed, but the detail is obscured by two slim columns and the men in uniform.
The Winter Texans contacted the Valley Morning Star on Feb. 14, the next day, but did not want their names used because they said they are fearful and upset by what they saw.
U.S. officials at first likened the reports to urban legends or the chupacabra fable. One official said the incident sounded like a scene out of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies.
Later, other officials took the story more seriously when told there were photos to back it up.
When handed the images, Felix Garza, a spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, quickly made Xerox copies and scanned the photographs to send electronically to CBP officials in Laredo. Garza then said there was “not much I can say at this point.” Officials in Laredo would provide additional comments, he said.
The Star checked repeatedly with various agencies after Feb. 14 to see if any bodies had turned up. Officials contacted said they had no reports of any such incident, and said no bodies had recently been found in the Progreso area.
Garza previously had said there had been no official reports from CBP agents about the incident that the Winter Texans said they saw on Feb. 13.
“We did not witness it,” Garza said.
However, he said he was told that Winter Texans were talking about the incident, but still there was no indication of whether they actually saw what he called a rumor.
“I have not heard of something like that happening in this area,” Garza said.
Mexican officials were also asked about the incident. The Star provided copies of the photographs to the Mexican Consulate in McAllen on Wednesday afternoon.
Miriam G. Medel García, spokeswoman for the consulate, said she had not heard of the incident. But she kept the photographs and said she would make inquiries.
On Friday afternoon, she said the consular office was investigating the Winter Texans’ claims.
“I cannot comment on the photos,” she said Friday.
U.S. officials said they would have become involved if they had known about the incident, even though they do not usually patrol the span itself.
The Progreso International Bridge is a private entity, not owned by the Mexican or U.S. governments.
“They are responsible for the bridge itself,” Garza said of the bridge company. “We do not police the bridge.”
The bridge is a means of international travel, where CBP officials help individuals reach the United States, he said.
“On a federal area, we are to assume the position for what happens there,” Garza said. “If we witness danger, we would assist, but I do not know if anyone witnessed this.”
One of the eyewitnesses interviewed by the Star said dozens of people — perhaps as many as 50 — were present as the incident began on the Mexican side of the bridge.
Sam Sparks of Santa Rosa is the president of the Progreso Bridge company, which owns the international bridge. Like Garza, he said he had not heard about Mexican soldiers crossing to the U.S. side of the bridge.
“No, I don’t know anything about that,” Sparks said.
The bridge was shut down briefly the next day, Feb. 14, after a bomb threat was reported. In that incident, Mexican officials recovered a box, but found nothing dangerous.
“We’re moving along smoothly,” Sparks said. “(The Mexican Army) have not had any soldiers cross the bridge, I can promise you that.”
Soldiers are often near the bridge on the Mexican side, off and on, to deter drug trafficking, he said.
“They are there as a matter of caution,” he said. “They aren’t questioning the tourists.” The bridge’s manager said she had not heard anything about the incident, but that bridge officials would have been informed immediately of any kind of dangerous occurrence.
U.S. Border Patrol spokesman Oscar Saldaña said agents had not recovered any bodies in the Progreso area.
When questioned about whether armed Mexican soldiers on the U.S. side of the bridge would constitute a border incursion, Saldaña said that was not an issue the Border Patrol handled. “Border Patrol doesn’t have anything to do with the Port of Entry,” he said.
But, he said, if soldiers had been photographed on U.S. soil, it would have been a border incursion.
Locally, though, Saldaña said there have been no reported border incursions by Mexican soldiers.
Another CBP spokesman, Rick Pauza in Laredo, also saw the photographs the Winter Texans took on Feb. 13. He received the photos from Garza, who works out of McAllen.
In a written response, Pauza said, “The men depicted in the photograph appear to be military.”
He added, “On occasion, our officers do receive reports of Mexican military on the bridge and in these instances, our officers go out to the middle of the bridge to investigate.
“In those instances, proper notifications are made to both U.S. and Mexican authorities.”
On Friday, Garza said he was unable to comment about whether armed men from Mexico on the U.S. side of the bridge would have constituted a border incursion.
Pauza was unavailable for additional comment Friday afternoon.
Verrryy interesting.
Killing the Mexicans Americans won’t.
Progreso Ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
And here:
Apparently Texas DOT is doing a study and solicits emails.
And, all your base are belong to us.
Has anyone posted the photo in question?
Another Aztec human sacrifice. To the river god this time
This is a picture of the foot bridge (adjacent to the traffic bridge).
For more info about this bridge, see texasmexicobridges.com
I used to vacation in Mexico frequently. I loved it there. I won’t go there anymore. Mexico has become a dangerous place.
So instead, next weekend I’m taking my kid kayaking out into the swamps south of New Orleans to look for alligators.
Ain’t no country for old men!
Bump.
Colorado couple recalls incident on Progreso bridge
By EDWINA P. GARZA/VALLEY MORNING STAR
2008-02-24 00:04:00
http://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/couple_20065___article.html/woman_bridge.html
The Colorado couple was with the South Dakota couple. I guess this is possible though. The part about the partitions on the Mexico portion of the bridge is accurate.
Might be a little cool for gators, but they may come out if there is some sunshine.
I hope it warms up some. We’re coming from near St. Louis. I want to see some green. Been brown for too long this winter.
I wasn’t sure if the gators would be out but the kid has a 4 day weekend from school, so this is when we get to come.
We’re spending 1 day in the swamp, 1 day in New Orleans. I’m more worried about New Orleans than the swamp.
Great picture! Yeah, we intend to stay inside the boat.
Same here, we used to go to Mexico at least twice a yr. Been almost everywhere down there. We always rented our own car and went off the beaten path exploring.
Now we go to Hawaii instead.
There, fixed it.
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