OBAMA APPROVES PRO-MURDER BORDER PATROL POLICY

FROM POPULAR RESISTANCE.ORG

Obama Administration Approves Pro-Murder Border Patrol Policy

PETITIONS AND ONLINE ACTIONS IMMIGRATION, POLICE ABUSE, WARS AND MILITARISM 
By Staff, www.bnhr.org
November 6th, 2013

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Above photo: Training of U.S. Customs and Borders Patrol procedures at the Arizona-Mexico border. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Trisha Harris

Border Patrol Announcement to Ignore Recommended Changes to Stop Shooting Immigrants is Alarming and Disappointing

- CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION - 

El Paso TX – Southern New Mexico. Today’s decision of the Obama Administration to disregard and ignore the calls and recommendations to change Border Patrol’s protocols in the use of lethal force against unarmed immigrants and border residents is irresponsible and reprehensible.

The announcement of the Border Patrol Chief Michael Fisher represents a major regression in the attempt to make border enforcement personnel accountable and opens the door for more incidents of institutional violence at the border and against immigrant families.

The Border Network for Human Rights (BNHR) condemns this reckless decision of the Administration that fails to bring justice for those who have lost their lives due to wrongful shootings of Border Patrol agents. BNHR, along with other border community organizations and stakeholders, have presented a number of recommendations to clarify Border Patrol’s protocols and procedures in the use of force, including increased training for agents in the use of non-lethal force, new strategies for de-escalation and tactical withdrawal in specific situations, and the effective re-certification of border agents in the use of fire arms.

“With today’s announcement, the Obama Administration and Border Patrol leadership have trashed years of dialogue and engagement with border civil society. They are sending a message of violence, impunity and of a clear disregard of accountability mechanisms”, said Fernando Garcia, Executive Director of the Border Network for Human Rights.

Border Network will continue to call for the implementation of a greater oversight and transparency of federal law enforcement at the border and will not stop denouncing the wrongful and shameful killings of migrants and border residents at the hands of unaccountable border patrol agents.

BNHR Call to Action:

Sergio Adrian Hernandez Huereca was shot at the El Paso-Juarez border on June 8 by a Border Patrol officer who said the 14-year-old boy and his friends were throwing rocks at him, a “deadly threat” that merited gunshots in return. According to eyewitnesses, the Border Patrol agent ran across the border into Mexico and shot Huereca twice in his eye. He died on the scene.

It’s clear that responding to rocks with deadly gunfire is nothing more than an excuse for Border Patrol agents to kill — something that’s happened eight times since 2010.² Some of the victims have been minors on the other side of the border.

President Obama needs to rein in the murderous tendencies of his Border Patrol. Please join us demanding that he prevent Border Patrol from using deadly force in response to rock throwing at the border.

Last year, Border Patrol killed a 16 year old Mexican boy named José Antonio Elena Rodríguez who was accused of throwing rocks over the fence at the US-Mexico border. Local police said there was little chance the rocks ever would’ve hit someone on the other side, but that didn’t stop Border Patrol from shooting him 11 times – at least 10 of those times in the back.³

Since 2010, Border Patrol killed Jose Antonio and seven other people in rock throwing incidents. They’ve killed 18 people total in alleged excessive force incidents in the same timeframe. Border Patrol has a serious problem, and it’s time for President Obama to take control of the out of control agency.

Firing bullets when rocks are thrown is a false choice – in the face of a rock attack Border Patrol agents have numerous options including tactical engagement so that agents can be safe when approaching a scenario or control the area from further back. This keeps agents safe until they are out of range of the rocks, allowing engagement of the rock throwers with nonlethal force.

When the Administration agreed to review its use of force policies earlier this year, it seemed like real change was imminent. Now it just looks like another cheap public relations move. The Obama Administration’s decision threatens to destroy the thin trust developed between border communities and the Department of Homeland Security.

We want real change at the border — the Obama administration must respect human life. Please sign our petition calling on President Obama to stop Border Patrol from using deadly force against rock throwers at the border.