More than 150 Mexican nationals who attempted to rush through the Mexico-U.S. border from Tijuana had an altercation with U.S. Border Patrol agents near the San Ysidro port of entry.
By H. Nelson Goodson
November 27, 2013
San Ysidro, CA - On Sunday, more then 150 Mexican nationals began to throw rocks and bottles at U.S. Border Patrol agents when they illegally crossed into the U.S. through the Tijuana river channel. The altercation occurred near the San Ysidro port of entry.
The border agents used pepper spray, tasers, rubber bullets and tear gas to turn back the crowd and didn't fatally shoot anyone throwing rocks at them and attempting to cross over to the U.S.
Several agents were reported hit in the arms and legs with rocks. Another agent was hit in the head with a full water bottle.
Three Mexican nationals were seriously injured when they were tased, dozens were treated for tear gas contamination and several others suffered injuries from rubber bullets. Between 200 to 300 Mexican nationals attempted to rush through the border into the U.S. Two men involved in the melee were arrested by Tijuana municipal police, but were later set free by a judge before any charges were actually filed, the Milenio dot com reported.
The crowd dispersed afterwards and no one was taken into custody, according to Mary Beth Caston, spokesperson for the U.S. Border Patrol.
Mexican authorities were notified of the altercation, but they didn't intervene.
Some agents believed the altercation and an attempt to rush across the border was organized. No confirmation has been made, if anyone organized the border melee on Sunday at noon.
Univision reported that some of those involved on Sunday's incident say, that they were asked to participate and they were told that they would be able to cross into the U.S. But at the incident, they learned that they were being used to make a movie and people were filming them. They saw al least a three camera crew and a man in a blue shirt was giving orders to the crowd.
If in fact, the people were used to make a film and not told about the intend, they were placed in danger when the U.S. Border Patrol responded to the area and engaged in repelling those intending to illegally cross into to U.S.
Univision reported that some of those involved on Sunday's incident say, that they were asked to participate and they were told that they would be able to cross into the U.S. But at the incident, they learned that they were being used to make a movie and people were filming them. They saw al least a three camera crew and a man in a blue shirt was giving orders to the crowd.
If in fact, the people were used to make a film and not told about the intend, they were placed in danger when the U.S. Border Patrol responded to the area and engaged in repelling those intending to illegally cross into to U.S.
The U.S. Border Patrol said, that next time agents would consider of using deadly force upon the Mexican nationals in order to protect their lives.
A U.S. Border Patrol helicopter launched tear gas canisters into the crowd, including three children, while border agents used pepper spray, rubber bullets and tasers to repel a massive group of 200 to 300 of Mexican nationals attempting to illegally cross into the U.S. last Sunday.
