Death of illegal immigrant at San Diego crossing prompts outcry

The death of an illegal immigrant who was shot with a Taser during a struggle with U.S. authorities Friday night has prompted condemnations and calls for an investigation by immigrant rights groups and the Mexican government.

Anastasio Hernandez Rojas, 32, was being removed from the country through the San Diego-Tijuana border crossing when he became combative and was Tasered by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent, according to a statement released by the agency. Hernandez died the next day at a hospital in Chula Vista.

San Diego police, who are investigating, said it’s unclear what triggered the altercation. The Mexican government called the death a tragedy and demanded an exhaustive investigation, a typical response in immigrant-related shooting deaths.

Hernandez, a construction worker and father of five, was a longtime San Diego resident who was deported last week after an unspecified run-in with San Diego police, said Christian Ramirez, the national coordinator of the American Friends Service Committee, who said he has spoken with the family.

Hernandez tried to re-enter the country Friday, but was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents, who processed him at a station and then took him to the pedestrian border crossing at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. The deportation area, ringed by tall fencing, is where U.S. agents every day hand over apprehended illegal immigrants to Mexican authorities.

When agents took off the handcuffs, Hernandez became violent, according to San Diego Police Capt. Jim Collins. Efforts to subdue Hernandez with a baton failed, he said, and when he and the agents fell to the ground, an agent shot Hernandez with the stun gun.

The cause of death has yet to be determined, said Ian Nakar of the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Rights groups question the tactics and say some witnesses suggest that agents’ use of force was excessive.

Hernandez, whose five children were born in the U.S., was simply trying to be reunited with his family, said Ramirez. He said Hernandez was 42, not 32 as reported by U.S. authorities, and had lived in the U.S. since he was 14 years old.

“It’s a tragedy that could have been prevented,” Ramirez said.

U.S. officials declined to comment aside from a brief statement. “Customs and Border Protection regrets the loss of life and awaits the results of a complete investigation into this incident,” the statement says.

-- Richard Marosi from San Diego

Comments

[Hammer]

Calls for investigation???

He was an illegal immigrant AND he attacked a law-enforcement officer.

There, you clowns, I just did your investigation for you.

I feel terribly for the man's family, but he brought this upon himself 100 percent.

[Robert]

I wonder if Mexican authorities request a full investigation when an illegal (undocumented) person commits a crime in the United States.

[Dave Goode]

If they where not trying to enter the USA illegally then nobody would be hurt Bleeding hearts will take offense but heat part of the law do they not under stand ?

If The La Times Need filler they will into how awful this tragedy this is . I am so sick off people trying to sway the population oh these poor people.

We also do not have a right to interfere with Arizona .

[JusticeWONK]

The L A Times SUCKS !

[M]

How about prosecuting and jailing the construction companies that were employing this guy for the past X amount of years?

And oh please...stop it with the "Illegals are criminals for crossing the border." What about the Americans that are giving them these jobs They're even bigger criminals for 1) hiring illegals and 2) evading taxes in the process. Look in the mirror America...you're equally to blame for this mess.

[Reality Sucks]

Its nice to see how out of touch the Times is with REAL people. Snipers on the border with ten rounds each. Let the illegals wonder which one is out of ammo!!!!

[Duane]

I assume now that I'm going to have to support his five kids.

[Peanut]

All you people cheering on his death should be ashamed of yourselves. His children may be reading your posts for all you know. You are heartless, cold individuals. Illegal or not, a father died and you evil people are cheering it on. Shame on you.

[jebus]

Its his fault.
Just hope are guys were not hurt.
Right on Border Patrol!
In the end we will win...This is the USA not mexico

[Tom M.]

He shouldn't fight with the Police...

[lisac747]

someone died, have a heart people

[Los Angeles Voter]

In a CNN Poll conducted over the weekend, 82% oppose boycotts against Arizona while 57% of Americans approve of Arizona's immigration enforcement law.

The poll, which questioned American adults rather than registered or likely voters, revealed the following changes:

•Those who want the number of illegal immigrants decreased went up three points in seven months to 76%
•Those who want all illegal immigrants expelled increased four points to 41%
•The split on whether immigration reform should focus on normalization or enforcement increased from 41/56 in December 2005 to 38/60 today
•Support for border fence went from a steady 45% over the last 4 years to 54%
•Support for stiff employer fines rose from 58% in 2006 to 71%
•Increasing federal agents at the border now supported by 88%, up from 74

[Lisa G]

So Sad to die for what he thought was right - to take of his family in a safe environment.

You know what tho -- my father served in WW II and saw alot of Legal Men Die for what they believed to be the Right Thing.\\\\\

[Lisa G]

I believe if your dying for what you believe is honorable. Good for his family to have an honorable father.

Does everything need to be a racial and injustice to ILLEGALS ?? ?? ???

tHANK you

[Ron Jeremy]

If I rob a bank and get shot ,are you going to feel sorry for me .He broke the law people,plain and simple .If this was in another country ,it probally wouldn't even get mention .With that said ,I feel sad for his kid because they lost their dad .

[kuruc]

he got caught sneaking in, so he commited suicide.

[ltfd]

Don't do the crime if you can't risk the consequences.

[kuruc]

jake adams: please marry the widow so you can help his family. please?

[St. George]

I think the people crying in outrage for this criminal need to ask themselves; where were they when Jamiel Shaw was gunned down in cold blood-he didn't have access to any taser or anything as a defense. What about the Bologna family gunned down in San Francisco-these activists are criminal loving thugs-and I deplore any newspaper that gives them an ounce of crebility-in their editorials. What they want is to annihilate the border patrol, just like LAPD has our cops playing nicey nice with demonstrators who throw bottles at them and then the same cops attack bicycleysts. As for Johnny wondering why we are still using tasers if they hurt or can kill, what do you expect them to do Johnny play nicey like the activists want?

[ac]

@Wooly Bully: what does it mean to be "born in the U.S. ILLEGALLY"? to bad according to your policy the babies will have to be killed also, in particular if they try to reenter.

[joetampa]

Mexican is not a race. We don't need to import more violence. Another example of sneaking in while crying foul. We don't need a fence or a wall. We need a crackdown on illegal employers, and free benefits. Having 5 babies while crying poor is outrageous. No wonder why Mexico is in the state it's in. No education, and plenty of violence rationalized with 'pity poor me'.

[steve]

What is the argument here? every single alien "BROKE THE LAW!" Our Government, Republican & Democrat, have allowed the invasion of 30 million criminals and is the largest invasion of any Nation, in direct violation of Article IV, Section IV of our Constitution.

This refusal to abide by our Constitution should be classified as Treason as grounds for impeachment & trials for Treason!

Not only have they allowed the invasion, they force American tax payers to pay Billions of dollars to provide Welfare, Prison, Educate the invaders children,free medical care, at the same time the invading horde break numerous laws, massive document fraud, & are destroying our schools, hospitals, communities, culture and standard of living while Robbing, Raping, Killing & Assaulting American Citizens WAKE UP PEOPLE! They walked,rode,swam and drove over here, they can do the same going home! taking thier anchors with them! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Btj6IeOFkis&feature=player_embedded

[MichaelB]

Bummer. But this is what happens when you proactively, willingly and purposefully continue to break the law.

[casey carey]

Well if he was in this country since age 14 & he is now 42 years of age; then he was in this country when Reagan et al last granted amnesty to illegals. As I do the math someone his age was born either in early 1960 or later 1959. Age 14 for this individual happened in 1974, so in 1986 when Reagan granted amnesty he was 25 or 26 years of age.
Something in this story smells & is written so we feel sorry for someone who was just trying to be reunited with his family. Well like someone else wrote move your family to Mexico with you.
Heard last night that there are many hundreds of thousands people from Viet Nam waiting to legally immigrate to this country. Why should they wait; book your air fare to Mexico City & make your way to our southern border; cross on over & demonstrate for rights.

[Estoban]

He was 14 when he entered our country in 1982. Why didn't he become a citizen in the 1986 amnesty? Are there many illegal aliens that really don't want to become citizens?