NEWS: Two U.S. Border Patrol Agents Detained in Mexico

Mexican Authorities have detained two off-duty U.S. Border Patrol agents who were attempting to cross the border from California into Mexico yesterday. A random search of the vehicle revealed a large ammount of ammunition, which is strictly controlled in Mexico. The pair could not produce permits to import this ammunition.



My first reaction to this story was “Gee, maybe this is part of the reason that the Minuteman Project was necessary?”

Still, it’s not realistic to paint all of any group with such a broad brush based on the actions of a few bad apples. These guys were clearly off on their own little mission…whatever that may turn out to have been!

They’re Border Patrol agents even…they really should have known that what they were doing was strictly forbidden, and could incur very steep penalties.

Prosecutors in Mexico are still considering the charges. It will be interesting to see what comes of this.

Related News Links:
www.reuters.com
www.guardian.co.uk

Hypocrits. KILL! RAPE! EVIL! Anyone going into Mexico while breaking a crime, but they go. KILL! RAPE! EVIL! Anyone who tries to stop Mexicans from breaking the law in America. So, Americans can't break law in Mexico, but Mexicans can break the law in America?

The irony of that was not lost on me, believe me!

On their side of the border, they've got Mexicali jails and federal charges waiting for these American "criminals".

Meanwhile, on our side of the line, we've got groups like the ACLU trying to protect those poor "migrants".

What's wrong with this picture?

First of, Mexico has a lot more problems than the US in the way of organized crime and police corruption and frankly I'm not surprised these guys were arrested DESPITE being Americans. Who knows why they were bringing 10 guns into the country, perhaps to sell to some shady fellows?

Last time I went to Mexico a border patrolman told us you get a year in jail for a bullet, so do the math. But, I'm sure there will be government pressure for a plea bargain even if they are criminals.

By the way, since when do Mexican authorities check American vehicles? That's what surprised me.

o man they break the law here we can break the law there he jumped of his roof im going to jump of mine same thing sounds stupid but its the same thing what do you expect cause there americans they can be let go heck no hang em if it was 2 illegals in the us with alot of ammo the cops would have shot them 50 times and blamin it on the illegals for not droping there gun which in reality was a burrito. anyways set a example mexico use your fireing squads to take care of those illegals when someone talks bad about america its not ok but when someone talks about another country its ok.

Jamuhn
It doesn't appear they had any guns on them. They were carrying a ton of ammunition, but the article doesn't mention any weapons being seized.

In any case, it's a good thing they were captured. The last thing America needs is more crooked agents on the payroll.

Sniff 'em out, lock em up, be more careful in hiring the next batch.

By the way, since when do Mexican authorities check American vehicles? That's what surprised me.

Apparently, this particular Mexican Border Crossing is a bit more civilized than one would imagine.

The source article says that they went through a lane for those who had nothing to declare, but were pulled aside for a "random inspection".

This makes me wonder what they may have done to attract attention?

Sadly though, the truth about this situation will probably be supressed by the governement. We'll probably never find out the truth of what those guys were up to down there.

.
Are they corrupt border patrol that were taking arms to their Mexican connections? Are they working in conjunction with Human trafficers?

Can't imagine why they would be taking hollow nose bullets except to take out Mexican or American Cops or border patrol.
.

I hate to inform people that 1300 rounds of ammunition isn't really all that much for someone who is in law enforcement or shoots regularly. In fact, for some who shoots regularly, the best way to buy ammo is by the case, often re-manufactured ammo. In this case, according to the article, in all likelihood the ammunition was issued.

Maybe these guys were on a "mission," but in all probability, they had that ammo in the vehicle and either forgot about it, didn't think anyone would check or didn't know the law.

All the more reason to stay the hell out of that corrupt cesspool called Mexico.

It is highly improbably that they did not know the law. Signs on the U.S. side of the border warn that it is illegal to take firearms and ammunition into Mexico.

Ignorance of the law is rarely excused at any rate. In 1999, they held a U.S. Marine from Camp Pendleton who had accidentally driven into Mexico with a sidearm and a disassembled semi-automatic for two weeks. They only released him following outcry from the States.

Hmm they broke Mexican law, no excuses, they pay for it. I wonder if theres the death penalty for that much ammunition? The Bushies shouldnt have ripped up the Consular Relations agreement *whoops* Now its up to the Mexicans good grace to allow consular access to these 2 Americans.

Its a bitch when your short-sighted policies bite your own in the ass.

LoL...hopefully this is not a capitol crime in Mexico.

Liza Davis from the U.S. consulate in Tijuana (where you can buy tequila, sex AND marijuana) has been quoted in this article, so at least they are well known about.

You do bring up a good point, though. It is disturbing that since we have chosen to pull out of the Optional Protocol to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, our citizens face limited protection while travelling abroad. This seems to have been done in order to give U.S. courts the ability to prevent foreign citizens who have been detained here from access to their own consulate representatives.

The irony here is that the U.S. was the first nation to invoke the Optional Protocol when we sued Iran for taking those hostages in 1979.

These guys broke the law and they should be put in jail. Why all the fuss? 1200 rounds isn't much, but 1200 .40 hollowpoints sell in the USA for, what, 35 cents apiece? In Mexico, they would sell for a great deal more.

Zip

Mexican authorities seem to take a particular delight in arresting and imprisoning unwitting Americans who are not familiar with Mexican gun laws. Possession of even one bullet can get you thrown in a medieval Mexican prison.

With that said I am with Grady on this one, it is very possible the owner just forgot it was in the car. I would even venture to guess if they had one or two grand on them the Mexicans would have looked the other way.

[edit on 5/4/2005 by shots]

Originally posted by shots
Mexican authorities seem to take a particular delight in arresting and imprisoning unwitting Americans who are not familiar with Mexican gun laws. Possession of even one bullet can get you thrown in a medieval Mexican prison.

With that said I am with Grady on this one, it is very possible the owner just forgot it was in the car. I would even venture to guess if they had one or two grand on them the Mexicans would have looked the other way.

[edit on 5/4/2005 by shots]

T - Y - P - I - C - A - L

There is no clearer example of bad American atitudes. So when something like this happens its the Mexicans fault. Obviously... They dare to make up their own laws and then some American "unwittingly" crosses the border and breaks it and its the Mexicans fault.

Listen to yourself.

What would happen if a Mexican came across the border with half a kilo of marijuana?

The Americans have an unfamiliar anti-marijuana law, its America's fault for having stupid laws that no one knows. They should be let go, its not their fault?

These were border patrol agents for crying out loud, who else is going to be more clued up on what and what is not allowed to cross the border?!?!

Now, due to your Bush administrations great forsight, they have no right to seek consular access to the U.S embassy. They are guaranteed to rot away in some "medieval jail" now and they have themselves, and the Bush Administration to thank for it. No one else.

Originally posted by subz

Originally posted by shots
Mexican authorities seem to take a particular delight in arresting and imprisoning unwitting Americans who are not familiar with Mexican gun laws. Possession of even one bullet can get you thrown in a medieval Mexican prison.

With that said I am with Grady on this one, it is very possible the owner just forgot it was in the car. I would even venture to guess if they had one or two grand on them the Mexicans would have looked the other way.

[edit on 5/4/2005 by shots]

T - Y - P - I - C - A - L

There is no clearer example of bad American atitudes. So when something like this happens its the Mexicans fault. Obviously... They dare to make up their own laws and then some American "unwittingly" crosses the border and breaks it and its the Mexicans fault.

I Did not defend what they did nor did I say it was right. What I said was it is very possible the individual forgot he had the ammo in the car.

How does a Border Patrol guard "forget" he's got 1200 hollow points in his car? Especially when he obviously knows what and what cannot cross the border? Regardless of whether or not the "forgot" ignorance of the law is not a legal defence.

That is one of the problems with integrating so closely with mexico...
their legal system and prison system suck to high heaven...
actually they don't really exist...
If we are going to help our neighbors to the south, then they need to help us also...

do we throw mexicans in jail without trial...NO!
do we deny them medical treatment, NO... actually we pay for many mexican babies to be born in America, so they can be citizens... We cure diseases that were rampant in mexican urban areas, only to have the same person come in to be cured again and again, due to continuation of the dangerous activity...

We are rather respectful and generous with our southerly neighbors, and what do we get in return?
No respect by the government... no repect from many of the citizens because the government doesn't respect us (they follow the lead).
it burns me...

We bring huge amounts of money into mexico thru trade and tourism, yet our citizens are in danger of losing there life for a simple misunderstanding just becuase they have no fair standard of treatment of americans... NO PROTECTION!...

A friend of my fathers was involved in an accident while visiting mexico many years ago...
a truck smashed thru his car,and another car... the woman in the second car was killed... since the truck left the scene, the only person to punish was him...
no trial... no hospitalization for his broken bones and injuries...
just straight to jail while he was still unconscious...
he woke up by being raped by a large mexican...
somehow, he eventually convinced his captors/kidnappers/federales that he had money and would arrainge payoffs for medical treatment.
While he was in the hospital (also sucky to high heaven) a mecenary hired by his family busted him out via payoffs and night crossings...

These border patrol guys knew the dangers and now they know the system...if you go to mexico... bring lots of payoff money... you might need it to save your life... becuase the government of either nation wont save you...
better yet... DONT GO TO MEXICO...A boycott of tourism into mexico until they agreed to protect americans from being "kidnapped" by the federalies.

[edit on 4-5-2005 by LazarusTheLong]

. . . . like bowling pins.


I have crossed the border at least 20 times (sometimes while fitting certain profiles) and was never even questioned while going "in" to mexico.

Second, mexican cops and US cops USED TO have a filial relationship, and generally gave each other lots of latitude. But it seems that the nature of that relationship is deteriorating rapidly, courtesy of V. Fox. I have been out of Law Enforcement for more than 5 years now, but it would have been unthinkable for this to happen a few years ago. Certainly, a C-note could have cleared things up . . .

Third, why were officials "waiting" for them? They MUST have had some help on this side. As in, "your boss doesn't like you, and wants you to dissapear, so the Mejicanos are about to find big dirt in your trunk." I would not be surprised to learn that these two customs officials were in favor of strictly policing the border. Maybe they had some embarrassing info on a superior? . . . I will bet you good money that none of the ammo has any but mexican fingerprints on it, before it miraculously appeared in their vehicle.

Fourth, why are two agents, "off duty," traveling together. Sounds like a special assignment to me: "Ok. Mutt and Jeff, I want you to cross the border, unarmed, with this large supply of bullets. Just go over there, turn right around, and come right back. Kay?

I smell a skunk. A dead one.

I don't understand the problem here.

First, my wife and I vacation in Mexico a lot, and not necessarily border towns or tourist traps, but places like DF, Cholula, Los Mochis, etc. As a matter of fact, we're considering retiring there -- or maybe some place in Central America -- in a couple or three years. Even though we're anglos, we're both bilingual and enjoy our time there immensely.

Second, whenever I'm in the United States I'm armed to the teeth -- not because I'm necessarily paranoid, but because I can.

However, I know that if you have a single round of ammunition with you in Mexico, they will break it off in you, which is why I never bring firearms or ammunition in to Mexico. There have simply been too many well-publicized cases of tourists getting popped with ammunition and going to jail.

Given that, i can think of three possible scenarios regarding the two Border patrol guys.

(1) They were there on some sort of undercover mission for the government, which means they were carrying out some sort of illegal incursion into another country, and, from that country's point of view, are criminals and belong in jail.

(2) They were there on some sort of side job whcih involve dealings with criminals or other weird weenies which involved firearms and/or ammunition, and are breaking both American and Mexican laws, and belong in jail.

(3) They are so incredibly stupid that they belong in jail to keep them from hurting themselves or others.

I don't think a lot of you realize that Mexico's constitution doesn't have the same guarantees that ours does, and they can make pretty much any laws they want to. If you have a problem with that, and are still contemplating a vacation, I understand Cleveland is very pretty this time of year.