Thread: Lawmakers seek justice for kin in border death

LAWMAKERS SEEK JUSTICE FOR KIN IN BORDER DEATH

Hernandez Rojas suffered a heart attack, and the medical examiner said it was unclear how much the beating, tasing, a heart condition and/or methamphetamine found in his system were to blame.

utsandiego.com

Bob Filner and Susan Davis, two House representatives from San Diego, and 14 other Democratic members of Congress have sent a letter to federal officials calling for justice on behalf of the family of Anastasio Hernandez Rojas, the undocumented immigrant who died after being tased and beaten while in U.S. Border Patrol custody.

The letter, sent to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Attorney General Eric Holder and the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General, also seeks more oversight of border agencies. It was prompted by recently released video footage in a PBS documentary showing a handcuffed Hernandez Rojas lying on the ground before he was tased at least five times while surrounded by more than a dozen officers and agents.

“In light of the troubling aspects of this case, it is critical that we find out what led to the death ... and work to ensure that tragedies like this never happen again,” Davis told U-T San Diego.

Filner did not respond to requests for comment.

The Department of Justice issued a statement when the video was released, saying it has an ongoing investigation into the case and would not comment further. No updates have been provided.

Involvement from Davis, Filner and the other members of Congress is the latest in a growing call for transparency and accountability stemming from Hernandez Rojas’ 2010 death at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. His family last year filed a lawsuit alleging excessive force.

Hernandez Rojas, a 42-year-old who lived in the Encanto area of San Diego, was deported because of his undocumented status. He was caught trying to return to San Diego. The county medical examiner’s autopsy report ruled the death as a homicide. Hernandez Rojas suffered a heart attack, and the medical examiner said it was unclear how much the beating, tasing, a heart condition and/or methamphetamine found in his system were to blame.

ELIZABETH AGUILERA • U-T

source: LAWMAKERS SEEK JUSTICE FOR KIN IN BORDER DEATH | UTSanDiego.com

or methamphetamine found in his system were to blame.

Meth Addiction
Users can become hooked the first time they take meth, and the addiction is one of the most difficult to treat. People who take meth can become violent and paranoid, and the drug can cause heart attacks and death.
Stop Meth