Thread: Illegal immigrant hit by Border Patrol in TX

Immigrant Hit By Border Patrol Unit

http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/5326217/detail.html

POSTED: 8:10 p.m. MST November 14, 2005

El Paso police say an illegal immigrant is in stable condition after he was hit by a Border Patrol unit.

Police say two illegal immigrants were running away from another Border Patrol truck Sunday afternoon on Paisano near Asarco.

One of the immigrants got in front of a border patrol vehicle that was not involved in the chase and was hit.

The Mexican man was taken to Thomason Hospital with severe injuries, the other man fled to Mexico.

www.elpasotimes.com

Man hit by Border Patrol car is in ICU

Louie Gilot
El Paso Times

A man, who officials say may have been an undocumented immigrant, was in stable condition at Thomason's intensive care unit Monday after being hit by a Border Patrol vehicle off Paisano on Sunday afternoon, El Paso police said.

The man, in his 30s or 40s, has not been identified and his nationality isn't clear, officials said.

"He wasn't carrying any documents. Absolutely nothing," Socorro Cordova, spokeswoman for the Mexican Consulate in El Paso, said. "We are waiting for him to be in better shape to interview him. He's pretty beat up."

Police said the man was struck on a dirt easement between Paisano Drive and the border fence, between Downtown and Executive Boulevard.

Two Border Patrol vehicles were involved, police said.

Manuel Mancera, who Sunday was driving west on Paisano, was a witness.

"This guy was running across (Paisano) and as soon as he crossed over, one unit intercepted him. He started to run back to the Rio (Grande.) I started to drive real slow to see what happened and there was this other unit I hadn't seen and I saw they ran him over," Mancera said.

"He was going back to Mexico. Why didn't they let him? They already did their jobs. They didn't let him in the U.S. At the same time I can't judge what they were doing at the time. If they were turning around or if he slipped," he said.

Border Patrol officials declined to comment while the investigation is ongoing.

Lt. Jaime A. Velasquez, who oversees the El Paso police Special Traffic Investigations Unit, said police are investigating the incident as an accident.

"The pedestrian was evading the second Border Patrol vehicle and ran across Paisano toward a crossing spot in the fence to Mexico. He collided with the first (Border Patrol vehicle)," Velasquez said.

Police will present their findings to the district attorney, who will decide whether to prosecute.