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Immigration See other Immigration Articles Title: Border Patrol agents fired on by gunmen from Mexican side By CLAY REDDICK LAREDO MORNING TIMES Mirroring a trend across the U.S.-Mexico border, Laredo CBP Border Patrol agents have seen recent jumps in violent encounters. Barely a week ago, Laredo agents on the U.S. side of the river were fired on by gunmen on the Mexican side in three separate incidents over two days. On a Jan. 28 visit to Laredo, Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar said he expected more trouble as the agency beefs up enforcement along stretches of the border traditionally controlled by organized crime. The job of the Border Patrol has always involved some danger, but recently the danger has increased, said Border Patrol spokesman Sal Zamora on Thursday. "The frequency and boldness are whats elevated our sense of concern," Zamora said. Some of the attacks on agents have come in broad daylight, he said. Laredo has seen 10 assaults on agents since the fiscal year began in October, Aguilar said. The sector saw only six assaults in fiscal year 2004 and 19 in all of 2005. Aguilar also made reference to multiple shooting incidents in the Laredo sector, but details of the incidents were not available until late last week. There were three documented incidents of gunmen firing on agents between Jan. 24 and Jan. 26, Zamora said. "These random sniper shootings at our agents are of grave concern," he said. In the first incident, Laredo South agents were patrolling the river Jan. 24 in Rio Bravo near Centeno Lane when they spotted a dozen suspected undocumented immigrants. The agents moved to arrest them and were fired on from the Mexican side of the river. They retreated to a safe distance with the immigrants before securing the area. Twelve people were detained and no one was injured, Zamora said. Later that day, agents were patrolling another section of the river in Rio Bravo at about 4:30 p.m. when they spotted suspected illegal immigrants in a van. The immigrants bailed out of the van and swam across the river to the Mexican side, Zamora said. As the agents were securing the scene, they were fired on from the other side of the river. The U.S. agents did not return fire. Remote video surveillance cameras also detected random gunfire, and Webb County sheriffs deputies responded to a call for backup, Zamora said. No one was injured, and no one was arrested. Two days later, agents responded to a Department of Public Safety call on Pico Road after 9:30 a.m. They spotted four suspected illegal immigrants, who started swimming across the river. As they investigated an abandoned vehicle, the agents were shot at by gunmen on the Mexican side. No one was injured, and the agents did not return fire. Agents did not shoot back in any of the incidents, although it is within their authority to return fire, Zamora said. Border Patrol agents are trained to use discretion when faced with violence, he said. "We are confident that men and women of the Border Patrol are trained and equipped to take action against these assailants to safeguard not only the lives of the citizens we serve, but to protect (undocumented immigrants) in our custody," Zamora said. Congress plans to hold hearings this week on reports of smugglers with military-style equipment crossing into Hudspeth County from the Mexican side.
Poster Comment: If the White House and Congress were truly concerned with the welfare and safety of American citizens, the troops in Iraq would be patrolling the Mexican border.
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#1. To: Zoroaster (#0)
Laredo has seen 10 assaults on agents since the fiscal year began in October, Aguilar said. The sector saw only six assaults in fiscal year 2004 and 19 in all of 2005. biznezz is good
Mr Rumsfeld said the emergence of populist leaders through elections in Latin American was "worrisome".
All hell is gonna break loose on that border. We need to bring our troops home from Iraq and put them on our border. I bet you'd see those a**holes who are doing the shootings at our BP backing up, back into Mexico. Don't mess with the US!
Secure our borders, save our nation!
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