INS Confirms thas U.S. Border patrol Agent fired upon by
Mexican Military five miles inside the U.S. Border, increasing the calls for citizens to
take direct action to halt what a U.S. Border Patrol agent called "an act of
war."
According to a U.S. Border Patrol Agent, the Tohono O'odham Police Department encountered
a Mexican military incursion on Friday, May 17, 2002 at approximately 8:30 PM along the
Santa Cruz trail inside the Papago Farms border patrol area, just south of Forest Road 21.
The unnamed agent spotted three Mexican soldiers in a Mexican Humvee on U.S. soil and was
attempting to leave the area when the rear window of his vehicle was apparently shattered
by gunfire. "The agent was leaving the area in an effort to avoid a
confrontation" with the Mexicans, according to Lori Haley, and INS spokeswoman.
"I cannot in good conscience stand by and watch another incursion along our border
take place," said U.S. Rep Tancredo (R-CO). "Unless we open our eyes and
recognize that what's happening along the U.S. Mexico border is real, one of our guys is
going to get killed.
The U.S. Border Patrol Agent, who wishes to remain anonymous, informed Rep. Tancredo
during a phone conversation that approximately five miles north of the U.S./Mexico border,
one the "GS-11" agents out of the Ajo border patrol station noticed a military
helicopter flying overhead, heading south towards Mexico. Shortly thereafter, he came upon
a humvee, which not only began to approach him, but to fire upon his vehicle. According to
the agent's testimony, the vehicles rear window and back driver's side windows were
destroyed. Fortunately, the agent was able to flee the incursion unharmed and concluded
the conversation by stating, "As far as I am concerned, that [incursion] should be an
act of war."
With the increase in hostilities now confirmed by the U.S. government, it's reported that
Private citizens are making preparations to deal directly with such incursions in the
future. |