Fatal encounters: 97 deaths point to pattern of border agent violence across America

[turbinetree]

In the last 15 years, agents with Customs and Border Protection have used deadly force in states up to 160 miles from the border, from Maine to California

by Sarah Macaraeg

For six long years the family of Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez have been caught in a legal saga seeking justice for the 16-year-old who was killed by a US border patrol agent who fired 16 times from Arizona into Mexico.

Ending criminal proceedings that have dragged on since 2012, a jury last week cleared agent Lonnie Swartz of second-degree murder and could not agree on a verdict for two lesser charges of manslaughter. The shooting has compelled judges up to the US supreme court to deliberate whether the American government can be sued in civil court for wrongful deaths on Mexican soil – placing the incident, and eight other cross-border fatal shootings, at the center of scrutiny surrounding the use of force by agents in response to allegedly thrown rocks.

However, lesser known are similar shootings which have occurred inside the US. Such as that of Francisco Javier Dominguez Rivera, who was shot and killed “execution-style”, in the language of a wrongful death complaint the government paid $850,000 to settle. An Arizona agent responding to an alert from the National Guard in 2007 alleged Rivera threatened him with a rock.

Ten years later, the Department of Justice settled another wrongful death claim involving a rock-throwing allegation in California for $500,000.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/may/02/fatal-encounters-97-deaths-point-to-pattern-of-border-agent-violence-across-america

[cally]

1. Last year, I went on educational trip to border

To understand what is happening. It is horrible and underreported. American citizens are being taken into custody with little recourse. Anyone not white is vulnerable and targeted. The private detention centers have little review and little protection with abuse and targeting of women and lgbt individuals. I personally talked to people who have experienced abuse.

I also went to desert and saw what immigrants left behind. Saw water bottles left and when I questioned why it’s because immigration routinely takes helicopters over refugees crossing the desert and fly low to raise tremendous dust cloud. Refugees scatter and leave belongings. Often results in death. Many locals try to help and provide water and supplies. Others go out and shoot up water supply so refugees die.

[turbinetree]

3. What is amazing is that these jerks that are doing this shooting up and flying overhead

I just wonder if the would put on the shoes that deserve due process if it was one them..............that is what is so amazing, they cannot and will not.........................put on those shoes.............and it begins with race, and look at the color of skin..............

[LanternWaste]

4. A relative of mine was arrested in Arizona in January three hours after he posted a video

A relative of mine was arrested in Arizona in January three hours after he posted a video of Border Patrol agents kicking over water bottles left by his group for the emigres. The group he's part of, No More Deaths, has routinely videotaped agents emptying containers of water onto the ground.

The feeling of suspicion and distrust held by many on DU for cops? That's precisely where I am in regards to the border patrol. I've spent too much on the Rio Grande watching what the agents do when they don't think they're being watched.

[cally]

5. No more deaths is an amazing group!!

I met with some of them. Hope your relative is OK

[underpants]

2. Now the RW fit about people throwing rocks makes sense

and the need to use deadly force .... against rock throwers.