NWV News -- Secret Gov't. Report Describes Armed Campaigns by Mexican Militia

SECRET GOV'T. REPORT DESCRIBES ARMED CAMPAIGN BY MEXICAN MILITIA

By Jim Kouri
Posted 1:00 AM Eastern
January 21, 2008
NewsWithViews.com

A secret federal document reveals that there were dozens of armed incursions by Mexican soldiers and police into the United States during Fiscal Year 2007.

The report was obtained by the Washington-based legal organization Judicial Watch, a group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption. According to attorneys at JW, the report documents 29 confirmed incidents along the US-Mexican border involving Mexican military and/or law enforcement personnel during 2007.

"These documents not only show the dangerous and chaotic situation at the Mexican border, but also the complicity of some Mexican government agents in violating U.S. law," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.

"The U.S. government must begin to take these incidents more seriously, publicize them and take measures to bring the crisis at our border under control," he said.

The report documents incidents such as the one at the Fort Hancock Station in El Paso:

"[Troopers] attempted to apprehend three vehicles believed to be smuggling contraband on I-10 … As the vehicles approached the border, [troopers] stated that a Mexican Military Humvee armed with a .50 caliber weapon and several soldiers were seen assisting smugglers return to Mexico … Officers then noticed several armed subjects dressed in fatigue type clothing unload the contraband into the Humvee. These subjects set fire to the stalled vehicle before leaving the area."

"Where is the outrage by our leaders in Washington over these blatant attacks on US sovereignty? Where are the church pastors warning Americans about these armed invaders from Mexico?" asks political strategist Michael J. Baker.

"We're in the midst of a presidential election cycle and yet no one is pressuring the candidates in either political party to protect our borders and our people," said Baker.

Judicial Watch noted that of the 29 documented incidents, 17 involved armed Mexican government agents.

The document also states that between 1996 and September 30, 2006 there were 253 confirmed incursions into the United States by Mexican government personnel. Prior to release to Judicial Watch, the Department of Homeland Security evaluated the information in the report as “For Official Use Only” and containing “Law Enforcement Sensitive Information.”

The report illustrates one common occurrence: "On Sept. 16, 2006, a Border Patrol Agent assigned to the Calexico, California Station observed an individual in an olive drab uniform with a possible Mexican flag on the shoulder approximately 100 yards north of the International Border near the Calexico [Port of Entry]. The individual appeared to be carrying a sidearm... "

It's not as though the situations are new, but Judicial Watch spokeswoman Jill Farrell said, "It appears the U.S. government's policy on such cases is to count them and file the paperwork."

The document also states that between 1996 and September 30, 2006, there were 253 confirmed incursions into the United States by Mexican government personnel. The government has documented shots fired on both sides of the border, unmarked helicopters invading U.S. airspace, drug smuggling and actual confrontations between US Border Patrol agents and armed members of the Mexican military.

One such case happened near Brownsville:

"As the boat proceeded to go down river towards the scene, the [Border Patrol] Agent on board advised via radio that several Mexican soldiers were pointing their rifles in his direction. The agent decided for his safety and the safety of the crew to turn back, but advised that the soldiers were still aiming at them."

Another case found a "Mexican Military boat" that was "providing security and escort for the two others that were later found to be transporting 2,716.53 pounds of marijuana."

"It seems as if, once again, the government is failing to secure our border," Fitton said.

Farrell adds that the government needs to take such situations seriously, and make sure the public knows. Her group, which obtained the federal reports through a Freedom of Information Act procedure, believes there are some real concerns about the border crisis, she said.

"You would think that the State Department or DHS [Department of Homeland Security] would be involved," she said.

Revealingly, the US government report notes that many of the incursions were both "armed" and "intentional" and cited one incident in a location where construction of a security fence was incomplete.

In another case near Yuma, two uniformed Mexican police officers advanced onto US soil and spent some time there "before walking back south into Mexico."

Previous government documents obtained and released by Judicial Watch note that such "incursions" have been documented in sectors including San Diego, El Centro, Yuma, Tucson, El Paso, Mafa, Lareda and McAllen.

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Officials from the National Association of Chiefs of Police previously reported a similar incursion onto US soil by Mexican paramilitary troops. The armed incursion resulted in US National Guard troops ordered to retreat and a huge coverup by the Bush White House.

Additional Mexican government incursion reports for 2003 through 2005 are available on the Judicial Watch Internet site.