U.S. incursion into Mexican territory condemned

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 14:32:38
Mexico has complained to the U.S. in a diplomatic note after American Border Patrol agents crossed into its territory to extinguish a brush fire.

After putting out the fire inside in the Mexican state of Sonora Tuesday, the U.S. agents returned to their side of the border with their equipment, according to a report by the U.S. Embassy.

"While the ministry recognizes the incursion may have been to attend to an emergency, according to the U.S. Embassy, it has been reiterated that even during emergencies it is necessary without exception to immediately notify Mexican authorities," the Mexican Finance Ministry told Reuters.

This has been the second such incident in recent weeks and comes days ahead of a visit to Mexico by U.S. President Bush.

In February, Mexico's Congress complained that U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, along with workers building a controversial border fence, had stepped into Mexican territory during a visit to Arizona.

Mexicans have become more sensitive about their 2,000-mile border with the United States since the Bush administration decided to build the barrier to reduce illegal crossings.

Mexico regards the barrier as an offensive act and says it will be ineffective and cause more deaths.

Bush is expected to discuss migration and drugs when he visits Mexican President Felipe Calderon next week in the state of Yucatan.

HRR/BH/BG

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