Thread: Document says Mexican soldiers crossing border into United S

http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_3403937

By Sara A. Carter, Staff Writer



The Mexican military has crossed into the United States 216 times in the past nine years, according to a Department of Homeland Security document and a map of incursions obtained by the Daily Bulletin.
U.S. officials claim the incursions are made to help foreign drug and human smugglers into the United States. The 2001 map, which shows 34 of the incursions, bears the seal of the president's Office of National Drug Control Policy.

The document states that since 1996, Mexican military personnel have crossed into the following sectors:

San Diego County, 17 times

El Centro, Calif., 58

Yuma, Ariz., 24

Tucson, Ariz., 39

El Paso, Texas, 33

Marfa, Texas, eight

Del Rio, Texas, three

Laredo, Texas, six

Rio Grande Valley, Texas, 28.

White House officials would not comment on the map and referred questions to officials at the Department of Homeland Security.

Kristi Clemons, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, would not confirm the number of incursions, but said Saturday the department is in ongoing discussion with the Mexican government about them.

"We - the Department of Homeland Security and the CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) - are determined to gain control of the border and will continue to collaborate with our partners on the border," Clemons said.

Border Patrol agents say they for several years have reported sightings and confrontations with Mexican military inside the United States, which the Daily Bulletin documented last year in its Beyond Borders series about immigration.

"We've had armed showdowns with the Mexican army," said a border agent who spoke on condition of anonymity. "These aren't just ex-military guys. These are Mexican army officials assisting drug smugglers."

In one 2000 incident, more than 16 Mexican soldiers were arrested by border agents in a small town west of El Paso, in Santa Teresa, N.M., after Mexican soldiers fired on the agents, said T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council.

None of the agents was injured in the gunbattle, and U.S. State Department officials forced the border agents to release the soldiers and return them to Mexico with their weapons, Bonner added.

"If (Mexico) is going to put military across our border to threaten our guys, and if their own government can't control it, then we should be treating this as an act of war," he said.

Mexican government officials said they have neither seen the report nor map and dispute the findings, stating that at no time in recent years have military personnel crossed the border into the United States.

"I strongly deny any incursion by the Mexican military on United States soil," said Rafael Laveaga, spokesman for the Mexican Embassy in Washington, D.C.

"When it comes to Mexican military on the southern side, I have no reports of them crossing into the United States. That would mean that the patrol got lost or lack of expertise and orientation. This could be smugglers with fake uniforms as a tactic to confuse the authorities."

Laveaga added that Mexico's law enforcement agencies work closely with the FBI, Office of National Drug Control Policy and other U.S. agencies to assist in the capture of drug cartel members.

Further, Laveaga contended that wealthy smugglers can afford fake uniforms and camouflage their vehicles to resemble those of the military.

"Some incursions do occur by smugglers both on the northbound and southbound sides of the border," Laveaga said. "Whenever these incidents occur, both governments have a mechanism to communicate with each other to let each other know what's going on."

In the Tucson sector - where many border agents reported run-ins with Mexican military - the U.S. Department of Customs and Border Protection formally issued a card to agents with tips on how to deal with incursions by Mexican soldiers. The Daily Bulletin first reported on the card last year.

The "Military Incursion" card states that "Mexican military are trained to escape, evade and counter-ambush if it will effect their escape."

Further, the card asks agents who come across Mexican soldiers to keep a low profile and use shadows to camouflage and hide.

Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., said the numbers show that suggestions for increasing Border Patrol resources or building a fence along the border won't do enough to secure it.

"It is a military problem," said Tancredo, who supports immigration reform. "We should commit the military to the border - tomorrow. I mean, with armor and weapons."

Speaking by phone from El Paso, the congressman recalled his own confusion and disbelief when Border Patrol officials first told him of the incursions several years ago.

But the more time he spent at the border, the more he realized how serious the problem is, Tancredo said.

"Down here, there are war stories where you have Mexican military pulling up when drug traffickers are coming across, cocking their weapons, challenging our guys," he said "Shots have been fired. ... This is a problem here. I don't think anybody understands it unless they're here."

Lt. George Moreno, who has been with the Imperial County Sheriff's Department for 20 years, said he was surprised to hear about the 22 Mexican incursions reported during 2002 in the El Centro sector, just east of San Diego.

"I've heard rumors that it's been happening," Moreno said. "A lot of these types of incidents are dealt with at a federal level. It's not brought down to our level unless it really concerns us."

Border Patrol agents also are the target of the international Mara Salvatrucha street gang, whose members Mexican smugglers plan to bring across the border and pay to kill U.S. agents, according to a confidential Homeland Security alert obtained by the Daily Bulletin last week.

Jim Gilchrist, co-founder of the Minuteman Project, a civilian volunteer group that has monitored the border since April, said Congress must address the serious nature of the military incursions.

"That number is 20 times larger than even the Minuteman Project organizers are aware of," Gilchrist said, referring to the 216 documented incursions. "But I'm not surprised at that number. There are significant drug and human cargo cartels involving Mexican military threatening Americans at the border. But our Congress has turned a blind eye to it because what the American people don't know won't bother them - that's how our representatives think."

Staff Writers Mason Stockstill and Wendy Leung contributed to this report.

This is great to know. The Mexican Army entered New Orleans during Katrina. Drove right in. The only entity to stop them was a reporter who asked "what are you doing here?" They said they were there on humanitarian aid. When the reporter asked do you have permission? They replied they did not need permission for humanitarian ventures.

Not one other follow up report on this.

I heard it on Fox during the week of Kratina. There was no follow up by them or anyone.

Also, I noticed something on the 60 minutes coverage of the border issue a few weeks ago that showed the invaders running down the interstates between cars in Texas. Something struck me. The way they were running. In single files. Very organized. Very athletic. Very skilled. It stuck me, these aren't Mexican citizens. These are soldiers in jeans and tennis shoes, even the women. They were all young, confident, trained...running like Marines would run in single file and they had no baggage....they weren't carrying anything.

The Mexican Army is already in the United States with permission from Bush.

"If (Mexico) is going to put military across our border to threaten our guys, and if their own government can't control it, then we should be treating this as an act of war," he said.

FINALLY SOMEONE GETS THE PICTURE!!!

RR

added to the homepage!

http://www.alipac.us/article-981-thread-1-0.html

I did an interview with a border resident for my documentary. His home was surrounded by 8 Mexican military soldiers. It's a pretty good story. His home is about 1 mile from the CA/Mexico border. They called the border patrol and the BP got them to hand over their weapons. I've got a cool picture of the Mexican military standing up against the border residents garage. This sort of thing happends all the time and I am not surprised by the numbers. The Mexican military is heavily involved in the trafficking of people and drugs. That's a fact and that is a big reason why the Minuteman need to carry arms when they are down at the border.

QUOTE FROM CONGRESSMAN TANCREDO:
Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., said the numbers show that suggestions for increasing Border Patrol resources or building a fence along the border won't do enough to secure it.

"It is a military problem," said Tancredo, who supports immigration reform. "We should commit the military to the border - tomorrow. I mean, with armor and weapons."

I see they're working their way to the truth now.
This is going to be interesting and kind of scarey. I feel very concerned
about the U.S. Border Patrol. We must protect them !! What will Jorge do?!! He cannot let them get hurt or killed. Even he said four weeks ago that it is VERY dangerous there.

Why YES YES YES, we need to commit military to the borders 9 months ago, but better now than never.

GO TOM!!

GET TROOPS TO THE BORDERS NOW AND STOP THIS NONSENSE!!

If we sent a tank onto Mexican land so many people would have a fit, but when they do it to us with .50 cal machine guns and humvees and suvs its ok. so ridiculous.

Anyways, I created a new site, and might link it back to the ALI-PAC site possibly.

anyways, my site is:

http://www.theborder.grimdesign.net/

Hi Grim. Fortunately we aren't the low calibre country that Mexico is. And, before things get out of hand, this site isn't about things like that. It's about a legal means to stop the flow of illegal immigrants into this country.

Yes, JJ, that's what it's about here...I trust that in the next few days and weeks we shall make a major difference.

At least THIS incursion made the news and there are 1,000's of angry Americans calling Washington.

If we can help get the eyes of the PEOPLE open...they will in turn open the eyes of their legislators.
RR