Wall of Silence Surrounds Killings by United States Border Agents The Voice of Russia
go to original December 17, 2013

Force at the Border: Critics say federal agents often lack training for domestic work (AZCentral)

In windows, on walls, Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez’s face is all over the place to memorialize him as 14 months ago, he was shot at least 10 times by one or several Border Patrol agents shooting through the fence into Mexico. Similar incidents have happened at other border towns in Arizona, California, and Texas, where families of the victims are claiming that agents have freely been able to kill both Mexican and US citizens.

One thorough investigation discovered that Borden Patrol agents who react to situations with deadly force are faced with very little or no consequences whatsoever. This includes cases where the reason for shooting someone is often filled with doubt.

Ever since 2005, at minimum 42 people have been shot dead by Border Patrol agents and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers — 13 of those victims were American citizens. All but four of these particular deaths took place alongside or nearby the southwest border. Excuses as to why the people were shot range from strongly being able to justify the death to highly suspicious.

CBP officials said that agents who use excessive force are disciplined. However, they will not comment on who, when, or even what form of discipline is administered. In all of the 42 reported deaths, no officers who participated in the shooting were known to have been disciplined with the public’s knowledge.

No public repercussions have been reported on of border agents being disciplined, even when three unarmed teenagers were shot right in the back. In addition, heads of the CBP will not release any of their policies, declaring that they are law-enforcement sensitive documents. Officials will not state if the deadly force that had been used was clearly justifiable. It is reported that the lack of transparency would go against the “best practices” law enforcement recommends for having to deal with lethal incidents.

Its notable to point out agents who did most of the killing went through with their actions under the same circumstances that other border agents resolved without using any deadly force and with no injuries to either party. Over the past four years eight rock incidents were the reasons some people were left dead by border agents.

Officials think of rocks as deadly weapons that allow them to use force, even though it is rare for them to be hurt during “rockings” as they list them as. Most of the rockings went on in urban hot spots along the border line. However, the Border Patrol has no need for agency patrolling in those regions to have or use less-deadly alternatives.

When deadly force is used by agents, investigations are launched by both the CBP and FBI though they can take many years to be released. Once they are finally published, the report seems automatic while the details are left foggy. Border Patrol Chief Michael Fisher stated that border agents will continue on using lethal force against rock throwers as rocks are considered potentially deadly weapons.

Senator Jeff Flake, Arizona Republican, one of the architects of an immigration reform bill in the US Senate that would increase the number of Border Patrol agents, said border agents have “a tough job.” Flake added, “Any loss of life incurred in the course of Border Patrol duties, as with any other government agency, should be given a close look."

See the original at The Voice of Russia

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