MURRIETA: Few protestors at Border Patrol Station on Saturday
MURRIETA: Few protestors at Border Patrol Station on Saturday
A day after angry clashes involving protestors on both sides of the immigration issue, the scene outside the U.S. Border Patrol station in Murrieta was quiet Saturday.
A few protesters gathered outside the U.S. Border Patrol station in Murrieta on Saturday, but the angry confrontations about the transfer of immigrants from Texas had simmered down, and there were no further arrests.
Protesters in Murrieta blocked three buses full of Central American immigrants Tuesday and showed up in force on following days. In contrast, protesters were hard to find on Saturday.
Officials said they didn’t know if or when additional busloads of migrants would arrive at the station for screening and fingerprinting.
“We have not been informed that buses will or will not arrive,” said Lt. Jon Flavin of the Murrieta Police Department. “We will staff accordingly.”
Orange cones blocked the road leading to the station, and a Murrieta police officer stopped vehicles attempting to enter the area on Madison Avenue at Guava Street for at least part of the day.
“People were encouraged to stay off the roadway,” Flavin said.
The department put out a news release, explaining that the Border Patrol office is in a remote area with limited parking on nearby dirt roads. People have to walk a few hundred yards or more to find a place to legally park, officials said.
Those wanting to reach the area on foot were not permitted to take large containers, coolers, EZ-ups, chairs or objects considered potential weapons, police said.
On Saturday morning, the area in front of the station was deserted except for TV news crews and two Border Patrol vehicles guarding the entrance.
Unopened plastic water bottles had been left by the side of the road.
Flavin said there were fewer than 10 demonstrators Saturday.
The calm contrasted sharply with the chaotic atmosphere the day before.
Protestors showed up in anticipation of the arrival of more buses with detained Central American migrants.
The migrants – mostly women and children – were being bought to Murrieta from Texas, which has been overwhelmed by a recent influx of illegal border crossers, mostly from Central America, entering the country from Mexico.
The detainees were coming to the Inland office for processing, later to be released to reunite with their families until their legal status is determined, immigration officials said.
Exchanges between immigrant supporters and illegal immigration opponents grew heated Friday, and officers separated the two sides as the groups shouted at each other.
At one point, there was a report of an assault. Officers went to investigate and confronted Janet Mathieson, 22, of Claremont, who they said was uncooperative. As they prepared to arrest her on suspicion of obstructing an officer, Pouyan Bokaei, 33, of Maryland, interfered and tried to free Mathieson, police said.
An officer went to arrest Bokaei and let go of Mathieson, who jumped on the officer’s back while Bokaei was being arrested, officials said. Additional officers assisted.
While the pair were being arrested, Jacqueline Sanchez, 26, of Los Angeles, Jessica Rey, 25, of Menifee, and Salvador Chavez, 24, of Los Angeles, interfered and tried to free them, police said.
The five people were booked into Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of obstructing an officer and interfering with an arrest. Officials said Mathieson also was arrested on suspicion of battery on a police officer.
Flavin said he didn’t know if those arrested were there to support or oppose the migrants.
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