Border Patrol encounters Mexican soldiers: Heavily armed foreign troopers on U.S. turf near Tecate

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Saturday, March 16, 2002 | By Jon Dougherty

[JohnHuang2]

A U.S. Border Patrol officer has encountered four heavily armed Mexican army soldiers on the U.S. side of the border near San Diego.

The soldiers, armed with three submachine guns and one M-16 rifle, crossed the border near Tecate, Mexico, while on a counter-drug mission, Border Patrol spokesman James Jacques said. They were all dressed in camouflage fatigues, said officials.

A Border Patrol agent, who was not identified in the SanDeigoChannel.com report, said he was following footsteps left by the Mexican patrol. When he encountered them, one of the Mexican soldiers had his sidearm unholstered.

The agent then unholstered his sidearm and identified himself. He told superiors the Mexican troopers then realized they were inside the U.S. and cooperated with the Border Patrol agent, who took them to a nearby Border Patrol station.

Their identities were verified by the Mexican consulate and other U.S. officials before they were returned to Mexico via the San Ysidro Port of Entry. The report did not say whether their weapons were confiscated.

"This could easily have escalated into a real tragedy," Jacques told reporters. "Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed."

The Border Patrol's Washington, D.C., headquarters did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.

The March 10 incident signals a growing trend of Mexican military forces crossing into the United States.

In March 2000, WorldNetDaily reported that a group of Mexican soldiers fired on Border Patrol officers.

On March 14, 2000, "two Mexican army Humvees carrying about 16 armed soldiers drove across the international boundary and into the United States near Santa Teresa, New Mexico," said a statement issued at the time by the National Border Patrol Council, a union representing about 8,300 "non-supervisory" Border Patrol personnel.

There the vehicles pursued a Border Patrol vehicle, which was "outfitted with decals and emergency lights (that were activated for much of the pursuit) over a mile into the United States," the union said.

The lead Mexican army vehicle, said the council, contained nine soldiers "armed with seven automatic assault rifles, one submachine gun and two .45 caliber pistols," and was eventually apprehended by other Border Patrol units.

The second Mexican army Humvee, however, "pursued a Border Patrol agent on horseback and fired a shot at him. The soldiers then disembarked their vehicle, fired upon one more Border Patrol agent and chased another agent before fleeing [back] to Mexico in their vehicle."

Then, in November, two border patrolmen who had just disembarked from a "clearly marked Border Patrol helicopter" immediately came under fire from a 10-man unit of what appeared to be soldiers with the Mexican army, according to L. Keith Weeks, vice president of the National Border Patrol Union Local 1613 in San Diego, Calif.

The second incident reportedly occurred Oct. 24 in Copper Canyon, about eight miles east of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.

About eight shots were fired, Weeks said. "Once other Border Patrol agents neared the scene, the soldiers retreated to Mexico and drove off in a minivan," he added.

News of the incursion comes as President Bush earlier this week convinced the House leadership to attach an amnesty bill to a series of other non-controversial bills that usually don't require much debate. The measure was passed.

Critics of Bush's bill say the granting of amnesty to millions of illegals rewards illegal behavior, worsens domestic security and demoralizes the Border Patrol and other law enforcement agencies charged with enforcing immigration laws.

On Wednesday, Bush signed into law the "Family Sponsor Immigration Act of 2002," which, the White House said, "allows an alternative family member to sign the necessary affidavit of support for an alien in the event of the death of the relative who initially filed a petition for permanent resident status for the alien."

[FITZ]

After the second incident, US troops should have been patrolling also.

Fox said no to US military on the borders. He can ---we can't.

[sushiman]

I was just saying the same thing to my my Mom in NY ( I am in Japan ) ... Nail hit squarely on the head ... Bush is a rat ...

[Mom_Grandmother]

"The March 10 incident signals a growing trend of Mexican military forces crossing into the United States."

"This could have easely escalated into a real tragidy," Jacques told reporters. "Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed."

The American government cannot afford to continue feigning ignorance when these incidents happen, they know, the've been warned. As I speak, there are immigrant students in our schools instigating and promoting "Sedition".

We are the most gullible people on earth. America wants to believe that the world thinks the way they do, so they laugh at these incidents, wave them off as "issolated incidents" then forgets about it, and it grows, and grows.

If a gang of thugs publically warns you to your face they are coming into your home and "take over", do you shrudge your shoulders and say "it won't happen", America has been doing this so long they won't know what hit them till it is too late. This is just my opinion, but it will happen and our American College Campuses are and do protect and promote "Sedition".

When Mexican Soldiers have enough brass kahunna's to cross our borders, "armed" something they've not done since the Mexican War, what does that tell us about our government?

With all I've seen since 9-11, I call nothing a "trend", I do not shrudge my shoulders, I take any and all threats and incidents against America very serious, we should all take anti-American hate talk on our soil (in our schools) deadly serious. These stupid kids are not alone, they actually have other nations to back their seditioius speeches that are very willing to take up arms and kill Americans.

We've got men and women going into foreign countries, fighting and dying to keep them away from us, but right here at home we have a country that will someday take over from within, go figure. Our borders are a joke, but the joke will eventually be on us.

[Twodees]

Yep, we need a President who will tell Fox to shut up and listen or face consequences. What we have is a president who worries himself sick that Fox will call him a racist gringo.

It's hilarious to me how all these pompom shakers who told us how tough W was haven't a thing to say on this subject.

[nicmarlo]

George Bush will pay for sneaking this amnesty bill through, behind the backs of the American people, come election time.

What the heck is wrong with him? What the heck is he thinking here? ....trolling for votes? (from illegal aliens, a/k/a criminals).

[nicmarlo]

but right here at home we have a country that will someday take over from within

The enemy knows this: "a nation divided cannot stand." We have enemies among us.....is this now how Rome also fell?

[Twodees]

It's very likely that these Mexican army patrols are escorting smugglers. It's insane to enlist the aid of the Mexican government in anything which affects our borders. Even a dimwit should have known better than to try to get cooperation from that gang of thieves in power in Mexico.

[Don Myers]

"George Bush will pay for sneaking this amnesty bill through, behind the backs of the American people, come election time."

I know that my wife and I will not vote for him again.

[Don Myers]

Well, anyone want a little action along the border? I would be willing to bet that a few people will be patrolling the border waiting for the Mexicans to cross the border.

[cake_crumb]

What exactly is in this amnesty bill, besides giving green cards to aliens who've been stuck in INS limbo but would get their green cards anyway, that has got you so worked up?

[antidemocommie]

This one is easy......"Remember the Alamo!"

[FITZ]

This is in today's paper in El Paso:

Detonator led to bridge shutdown
Juárez man investigated by FBI, INS

Diana Washington Valdez
El Paso Times, March 16, 2002

The El Paso FBI is investigating an 18-year-old Juárez man who was detained Thursday night at the Paso del Norte Bridge with a detonator device for possible "attempted bombing and explosive law violations," FBI Special Agent Al Cruz said Friday.

"The suspect is a Mexican citizen in the custody of the INS on violations of U.S. immigration laws," Cruz said. "What the FBI is investigating is a bomb case."

Roberto J. Moreno, the suspect, allegedly also possessed the means to create false documents, officials said.

"The detonator was homemade, but the only thing it was missing to make it a bomb was explosive material," El Paso police Sgt. Al Velarde said.

Moreno was in custody Friday at the El Paso County Jail under $2,000 bond. Authorities did not provide any details about his background or what he planned to do with the device.

Although Moreno was stopped at 7:30 p.m., officials did not close the Paso del Norte Bridge until 9:30 p.m. -- two hours after the detonator was intercepted. They reopened it about two hours later.

"We are reviewing why the bridge wasn't closed sooner," Velarde said. "It was the El Paso Police Department that made the call to close the bridge as a safety precaution."

Several federal agencies operate at the international bridges and have jurisdiction over different matters. But when public safety is at risk, city police can take charge and order measures such as closing the bridges, Velarde said.

Immigration and Naturalization Service officials are investigating Moreno separately for alleged possession of false immigration documents, INS spokeswoman Anita Reyes said.

Initially, El Paso police arrested him on a charge of possession of a hoax device, which is a misdemeanor.

The El Paso Police Department and FBI bomb squad members were called to the bridge after a U.S. Customs Service inspector discovered the device inside Moreno's luggage, Velarde said. "He also had a computer disk with template to create false documents, and had something that possibly was a map of some kind."

After the bomb squad destroyed the device, they inspected the remains and found out that the detonator did not contain any explosive material.

Authorities said Moreno walked across the bridge from Juárez at 7:30 p.m. with a carry-on suitcase. He was stopped for inspection at the pedestrian checkpoint.

Velarde said officials noticed the device, and after initial inspection, "it was determined that the device appeared to be an explosive and posed a danger to the premises."

Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com

[FITZ]

It amazes me that it takes two hours after they find what appears to be a bomb --and in fact is part of a bomb and the INS still doesn't close the border, it took a local police department to do it. Homeland security amounts to strip searching Americans at airports but not we can't close or protect the borders.

[usconservative]

I heard a story about a Pershing Missile battery looking for Grafenwehr training area, showing up at the Czechoslovak border. Fortunately, the local border guard didn't let them in.

I heard the same story, but with a modern Urban Assault Vehicle disguised as a green and white large recreational vehicle. The vehicle contained an incredibly well armed, self-trained crack assault team who upon learning that some of their buddies were under arrest in a foreign land, crashed the border, rescued their friends, took on and disabled a few tanks, blew up a few buildings and returned safeley back home.

All the while proving the value of this experimental Urban Assault Vehicle disguised as a large green RV.

They were hailed as heroes, and were pictured on magazine covers everywhere.

It's true. I saw it on TV!

.../humor

[bimbo]

If the United States is unable (actually unwilling) to defend its border against un-armed immigrants, it does not surprise me that the Mexican Army is taking advantage of this. These small-scale cross border operations give them certain intelligence in the event that Mexico decides to govern the U.S. land occupied by its citizens. Notice that in no instance did the Mexican Army encounter U.S. Defense Forces.

[Dane]

It amazes me that it takes two hours after they find what appears to be a bomb --and in fact is part of a bomb and the INS still doesn't close the border, it took a local police department to do it. Homeland security amounts to strip searching Americans at airports but not we can't close or protect the borders.

And it amazes me that you see a "conspiracy" everywhere. They caught the guy. As for your parallel about airports, if the security guard finds something they don't close down the airport, they only close it down if there was a breech. There was no breech, but the locals decided to overrule which is their perogative. Looks like the system worked, but you just want to complain.

[Issaquahking]

Yup...mmmmHHMmmm and Islam is a religion of peace.

[Geezerette]

Am now listening to a radio interview with AZ Rep. J.D. Hayworth, one of our most conservative and patriotic Congressmen. He did not address this very issue of foreign soldiers on our border, his topic was doing something about the INS. He is working on solutions. Was obviously furious about the goof-up last week about the two visas for the dead terrorists.

Our AZ ranchers on the border are trying so hard to protect their property. It may come to a vigilante warfare status here eventually. These old ranchers still have the cojones and will die trying!

g

[T-Bird45]

I heard a story about a Pershing Missile battery looking for Grafenwehr training area, showing up at the Czechoslovak border.

That would likely fall under the heading of "urban (or Army) legend" for several reasons: Pershing units were all based well back of the Inter-German and Czech borders; there was no reason for them to go to Graf because they could not conduct live fire there (that was either done in the US or in Scotland); Pershing was a theater asset and maneuver of those assets near the border would have been a significant provocation to the Warsaw Pact.

[TwoStep]

**Ping**