Mexican Federal Agents Cross Into U.S. Without Permission
ktsm.com
By STAFF
Thursday, September 1, 2011 - 7:35pm

EL PASO - A scary day for some local Dove hunters on the U.S. / Mexico border. We're told Mexican Federal Agents crossed into U.S. territory and aimed their automatic weapons directly at them.

Border Patrol agents were on the move at the Zaragoza Bridge. It's dove hunting season, which means the crossing in the Ysleta District is usually pretty busy.

"This morning they just didn't open the gate for us, and it's usually open pretty early," Jacob Cope said.

Cope has been trying to hunt all day, but he hasn't been allowed through the gates. That may be because this morning another group of hunters came face-to-face with Mexican men carrying powerful guns.

"Right now, I went and they said there was an incursion on the Mexican side coming over here, some Mexican soldiers," Cope said.

The Border Patrol confirmed that Mexican Federal Agents crossed into the U.S. without permission. Word spread through the hunting community that those Federal Agents shot at a group of hunters and then stole some hunting equipment. Border Patrol says those allegations were not part of their initial investigation, and so far there's nothing to prove that actually happened. Tonight Border Patrol, the State Parks and Wildlife, and the Mexican Government are all investigating what happened. It appears that investigation means a closed border for frustrated hunters who say they've never experienced this before.

"I've done this since I was probably 12-years-old, and it's never been an issue. I mean they drive back-and-forth on their side all the time. You'll see guys up there with M-16's," Cope said. "I wish they'd open the gates for us. We've done this for years, and there's no reason they should shut gates on us."

Tonight there are no reports of any injuries because of what happened.

Border Patrol would not release any more information to us.

Of course, we'll continue to follow this story.

http://www.ktsm.com/news/mexican-federa ... permission