Palomas police chief flees border town; asks for political asylum
By Kevin Buey/For the Sun-News
Article Launched: 03/21/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT



DEMING — The embattled city of Palomas, Mexico, is now literally lawless.

The Luna County Sheriff's Office and U.S. Border Patrol reported Thursday that the Palomas Chief of Police came to the Columbus Port of Entry late Tuesday night, requesting political asylum.

The chief, identified by the LCSO as Emilio Perez, reportedly told Immigration and Customs Enforcement his department's only two officers had fled and he had no idea where they are.

Recent violence in Palomas includes the armed robbery last Sunday of a dentist's office while Columbus Mayor Eddie Espinoza was undergoing a root canal, and several shootings and deaths. The LCSO said a source in Palomas identified two more victims of shootings last weekend as Sergio Perez Gonzales, 55, and Rigoberto Munoz Acosta, 21. Those would be the third and fourth deaths in recent weeks attributed to what U.S. authorities say is a battle between drug cartels for control of the area's drug trade.

"This highlights the concern we all have for the escalation of violence in our sister city of Palomas," Rick Moody, agent-in-charge of the Deming USBP Station, said of the latest deaths and Perez' request for asylum.

The escalating violence "just shows the length criminal groups will go to in the ongoing fight to try to control their trade," moody said. "I think this is related to an ongoing fight between two organizations. As long as it goes unchecked, it will continue."

U.S. officials were assured last week Mexican military troops were being dispatched to the area to help control the situation.

"There was an initial response, to our knowledge, by the government of Mexico, but I don't believe they have responded fully, yet," Moody said.

He said this is not the first time Palomas police officers have requested asylum. He recalled a case about four years ago when the city's officers also came to the port.

Requests for asylum are reviewed on various criteria, Moody said, including fear for one's life. Requests are reviewed by an immigration judge. Results are usually not announced.

Moody said Perez was in protection of ICE agents.

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