Two US Border Patrol Agents and Mexican Child Injured in Boating Crash on Texas Borde
Two US Border Patrol Agents and Mexican Child Injured in Boating Crash on Texas Border
by Ildefonso Ortiz20 Apr 20153
Two U.S. Border Patrol agents and a Mexican child were injured in what appears to have been a boating accident along the Rio Grande River on the Texas border with Mexico. While the case remains under investigation and the information is preliminary in nature, two agents on a boat had been conducting routine patrols around Anzalduas Park when a Mexican boat abruptly turned into the path of the U.S. border patrol boat causing a collision, said RGV Sector Chief Kevin Oaks during a news conference that Breitbart Texas attended.
The collision caused the two agents to be ejected from the boat and landing into the water with one of the agents flying over both vessels before hitting the water with enough force to cause head trauma, said Acting Chief Deputy JR Villarreal during the news conference.
Just after the crash, a Texas Department of Public Safety boat moved in to help one of the agents out of the water and to fight off a man in Mexico who had been throwing rocks at the agents.
“The vessel deployed less lethal measures,” Villarreal said during the conference.
While both agents remain in stable condition, one of the agents suffered a broken leg and will need to undergo surgery. A little later a Mexican family arrived at the Anzalduas International Bridge requesting medical attention claiming to have been aboard the Mexican fishing boat. Preliminary information points to a 9-year-old boy being injured in the crash, his condition was not known, Villarreal said.
As Breitbart Texas previously reported, the area immediately south of Anzalduas Park is a popular park visited by various families but it is also used by human smugglers who use jet-skis to bring illegal immigrants across.
During the news conference Breitbart Texas asked Villarreal if the boat involved in the collision was involved in any illicit activity or if other vessels involved in illicit activity may have played a role in the crash.
“The matter is still under investigation but as of now we don’t have any information that shows the boat was involved illicit activity,” Villarreal said.
http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2015/...-texas-border/
Mexico Attacks US Border Patrol Over Boat Wreck, Agents Fight Back
by Ildefonso Ortiz
26 Apr 2015
MCALLEN, Texas — Tensions have sparked after the Mexican consulate issued a harsh statement blaming the U.S. Border Patrol for a boat crash that left a child and two agents injured.
In response to the harshly worded statement, the local chapter of the National Border Patrol Council rushed to defend the name of the agency pointing out the hypocrisy of the Mexican government and stating that the agents were not at fault in the crash.
As previously reported by Breitbart Texas, a Mexican fishing boat with a family on board abruptly cut off a U.S. Border Patrol boat leading to the collision. Two agents were ejected with one of them suffering head trauma. Right after the crash, people on the Mexican side began throwing rocks at the agents who were trying to come out of the water. Texas state troopers had to use less lethal weapons to fight off the attackers.
Soon after the crash, the Mexican Consulate issued a written statement condemning the crash and apparently blaming the agents for the child’s injuries as well as stating that the use of less lethal weapons following the incident had been an unjustified use of force.
Just moments after the statement had been issued Chris Cabrera the Vice-president for the Local 3307 of the NBPC spoke with Breitbart Texas defending the agency and calling out the McAllen Consulate. The union has been in constant contact with the agents to make sure their medical needs are taken care of.
“The Government of Mexico is quick to condemn, yet fail to police their own people. Border Patrol Agents were not at fault for the incident on April 19, 2015 when a watercraft darted in front of a Border Patrol vessel without warning, causing several injuries,” Cabrera said in a prepared statement provided to Breitbart Texas. “Our agents as well as other law enforcement entities came under attack by Mexican Nationals throwing large rocks, attempting to hinder the rescue effort. The Government of Mexico fails to recognize much less condemn this. Furthermore, the Government of Mexico fails to hold their citizens accountable. The Government of Mexico is taking the easy way out by pointing fingers rather than working to ensure the safety of their citizens. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all, both Mexican Nationals and Border Patrol Agents, involved and wish for speedy recoveries. It is disheartening that the Government of Mexico has not expressed concern for the health of our agents.”
Here is the complete statement from the Mexican Consulate:
The Consulate of Mexico in McAllen strongly condemns the incident occurred on April 19, 2015 at the Rio Grande riverbank in which a Border Patrol boat impacted another boat with Mexican nationals on board. Two of the passengers were children and one of them suffered grave injuries. Consular staff have been closely following the health condition of the child, in case consular assistance is needed.
As it has been reiterated in several occasions, the Government of Mexico censures those incidents in which law enforcement agencies unjustifiably resort on the use of force. Mexico has stated also that violent incidents like this hurt the spirit of prosperity and good neighborhood spirit that should prevail in our common border, and run against the cooperation and communication established at the Border Violence Prevention High Level Group.
When this Consulate learned about the incident, it demanded a thorough investigation and full accountability, as well as that proper sanctions are applied to the Border Patrol agents involved.
This Consulate will closely follow the investigations of this regretful incident conducted by local and federal agencies, that will establish the level of responsibility of the Border Patrol agents involved.
The Embassy of Mexico in Washington will express its deep concern to the appropriate authorities and will closely follow up this case at the federal level.
This Consulate is in permanent contact with the affected Mexican nationals and will provide the necessary consular assistance, including legal counsel.
http://www.breitbart.com/big-governm...ts-fight-back/
