Desert Invasion - U.S.Mexican Army incursions onto U.S. soil to protect drug runnersDuring his travels along the border, Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) learned that the Mexican Army and Law Enforcement Agencies routinely make incursions into the U.S. A total of 23 were confirmed by the U.S. government in 2001, and there have been over 115 since 1996. The purpose of these incursions is not totally understood, but U.S. officials have speculated that they are designed to help facilitate the flow of illegal drugs into America, either by creating a diversion or by providing cover for the traffickers. When Rep. Tancredo sent a letter to the Mexican government, the Embassy in Washington, DC sent a curt response to his inquiry, implying that the troops were merely getting lost. Not a single U.S. law enforcement agent on the ground in the southwest has agreed with that explanation. Rep. Tancredo's office has begun documenting new incursions as they take place. Most recently, two disturbing incursions have taken place. On May 17th, a Mexican Army unit led an incursion near Ajo, Arizona that ended with a shot being fired at a Border Patrol Agent. The agent was not hurt, but had two of his vehicle's windows shot out. On June 14th, the Mexican Army opened fire (with high-powered .308 rifles) on a vehicle with 20 people packed into it. Six of the passengers were injured, two critically. Despite Rep. Tancredo's efforts to draw attention to them, each incident received only spotty coverage. (From U.S. House Immigration Reform Caucus website). |