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

[dainajean]

The Los Angeles Times has no credibility and is just another RACIST RAG. It's headline speaks of an "outcry" and no where in the following article is there any real outcry talked about. People ask for investigations routinely. Just WHERE is the outcry?? Sensationalism for profit and provocation is immature at least and irresponsible and YELLOW JOURNALISM in truth.

LA TIMES, you are not a reliable source of news. You are a JUST ANOTHER BAD COMIC BOOK!!!

[Hypatia]

Is this LA Times=speak for criminal illegal who got into a fight with the cops and lost? Just askin'.

[Joaquin's Revenge]

According to Article 1 of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo there must be universal peace between Mexico and the United States and their people. If the United States considers itself a country of laws and a universal model of freedom and democracy then it needs to obey its treaties.

[dainajean]

LA TIMES, JUST WHAT PART OF THE WORD

"ILLEGAL"

DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND ??!!

I would really like to see what would happen if ICE came for a visit with you.

How many employees of yours would not return to work the
day after that visit ?? !!??

[TheRealHip]

If this was here in Arizona it would be national news....

Why isn't it? Because it's in California?!

[KAY]

All you racist ppl need should be ashamed of yourselfs illegal or not a man just died your all so self righteous. this country will cease to be great if we keep breeding discrimination and hate which is the only thing you all ooze in your comments. i think there should be a thourough investigation its my understanding that there were like 20 officers and their is an audio of the poor man asking them to please stop repeatedly and asking for help. you can even here other people saying he isnt resisting let him go. so yeah this agents need to be punished

[Human Being]

You cant just kill a person on the ground asking for Mercy... I feel really really shocked after have heard the sounds of that video...

Im Mexican, but dont worry people I live in my country, Im well educated with a 2 college degrees... and I have a good Job here.

Sometimes I can uderstand your rage with Immigrants taking jobs or whatever... but come on, You cant kill a person in this way... Like a dog... man... this video is almost a SNUFF tape...
I feel so disturbed and sad at the same time for this...But I feel more sadness for the hate that some americans have with us...

Back in 2004... dont you remember which Country did sent its Militia to help the people from New Orleans??... Damn it, MEXICO did it... We were there to helped you out...
Why are you forgetting it so fast?... We´re more like a friend than an enemy to you, and Im talking as a country.

We´re The Number 1 Commercial Partner from USA... All the economy on the border cities like Laredo tx, McalleN TX, el paso have life and grow success, just because of the
Mexicans who are still buying your exported products...

Dont be wrong, We both countries need each other, and Im talking about Money, Maybe alot of persons on this forum have a job just because of the commerce between both countries...
Think it better next time when you would say something bad about Mexicans, Because we´re the Country that has more consumptions of your exported products...
and guess what? U.S.A is the number 1 client of Mexican Products... Did you all know that? I guess not...

I know this guy was an illegal alien, but we was a human being, not an animal, and he was killed like that, with no mercy, even when he was asking for Mercy in spanish to those officers,
that Im sure... all those officers or even the majority of them have Mexican Parents, so they perfectly understood his screaming words....

God, I cant believe how bad and evil; a person can be in this CRAPPY world.