Border Patrol fires non-lethal devices after security guard says he was attacked
SUNLAND PARK, N.M Aug 16 2019 Border Patrol agents fired pepper-spray projectiles at a group of people on the Mexican side of the border who were throwing rocks at a security guard in Sunland Park, New Mexico, according to BP officials.
The incident happened Sunday at the American Dam, which is located next to the newly constructed private border barrier.
Lori Kuczmanski, a spokeswoman for International Boundary and Water Commission, said in a phone conversation Wednesday that the organization’s security guard told a group of swimmers from the Mexican side of the border to get off the American Dam, which is owned by the IBWC.
Kuczmanski said the group became confrontational and aggressive and started throwing rocks and sticks at the security guard.
He was not hurt but he reported the incident to Border Patrol.
“On Sunday evening, the El Paso Sector Radio received a call for assistance from The International Water Boundary Commission (IWBC) on an on-going assault against one of their security officers. U.S. Border Patrol agents responded, as well as other agencies to include the Juarez Municipal Police. The responding agents encountered a large group of subjects on IBWC property throwing rocks and refusing to leave the area. The agents ordered the subjects to stop the assault and leave the area. The group’s refusal to stop the activity prompted agents to deploy less-lethal devices. Pepperball Launching Systems (PLS) were utilized to disperse the group. All of the subjects returned to Mexico without further incident,” said agent Fidel Baca, a spokesman for Border Patrol.
Local immigration advocates Border Network for Human Rights condemned the Border Patrol for their actions.
