Mexican military makes accidental incursion into the U.S.
BY JAMES GILBERT, SUN STAFF WRITER October 31, 2008 - 3:23PM
Agents from the Yuma sector Border Patrol arrested and detained seven Mexican soldiers who had crossed into the United States on Friday morning.
According to agent Ben Vik, a spokesman for the Yuma sector, the station received a call at about 8 a.m. that a military-style vehicle appeared to be disabled north of County 14th Street and the Colorado River.
Border Patrol agents and a Customs and Border Protection helicopter immediately responded to the area and located the vehicle and its passengers and determined that they had illegally crossed into the country, the patrol said.
The passengers, dressed in military-style clothing, identified themselves as members of the Mexican army. After informing them they were in the United States, agents took them into custody.
"They were an armed patrol," Vik said. "The soldiers were friendly and cooperative. After being told they were in the U.S. they peacefully relinquished their weapons to the agents."
Vik stressed that at no time there were any hostilities exchanged between the agents and the soldiers.
The soldiers, their weapons and the vehicle were placed in Border Patrol custody and taken to the San Luis Port of Entry, where they were each processed in accordance with Border Patrol policy. None of the subjects had any criminal or immigration history.
Vik said the soldiers, who were assigned to the 23rd Regiment Motorized Cavalry of the Mexican army, claimed that they had become disoriented while on patrol on the Mexican portion of the area and had accidentally crossed into the United States.
"When agents encountered them, they told the agents they were lost," Vik said. "As it turns out, the area where they crossed is very deceptive. There is nothing there to indicate, other than the low banks on either side that it is a river. To someone who is not familiar with the area it is an understandable mistake."
Vik said the soldiers also stated that they had run out of gas.
The soldiers, weapons and vehicle were returned to Mexico, Vik said, and remanded into the custody of their commanding officer.
Vik added the incident remains under investigation, but that the incursion has been determined to be accidental.
CBP Office of Internal Affairs was also notified of the incident.
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James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.
http://www.yumasun.com/news/arrested_45500___article.html/border_crossing.html
BY JAMES GILBERT, SUN STAFF WRITER October 31, 2008 - 3:23PM
Agents from the Yuma sector Border Patrol arrested and detained seven Mexican soldiers who had crossed into the United States on Friday morning.
According to agent Ben Vik, a spokesman for the Yuma sector, the station received a call at about 8 a.m. that a military-style vehicle appeared to be disabled north of County 14th Street and the Colorado River.
Border Patrol agents and a Customs and Border Protection helicopter immediately responded to the area and located the vehicle and its passengers and determined that they had illegally crossed into the country, the patrol said.
The passengers, dressed in military-style clothing, identified themselves as members of the Mexican army. After informing them they were in the United States, agents took them into custody.
"They were an armed patrol," Vik said. "The soldiers were friendly and cooperative. After being told they were in the U.S. they peacefully relinquished their weapons to the agents."
Vik stressed that at no time there were any hostilities exchanged between the agents and the soldiers.
The soldiers, their weapons and the vehicle were placed in Border Patrol custody and taken to the San Luis Port of Entry, where they were each processed in accordance with Border Patrol policy. None of the subjects had any criminal or immigration history.
Vik said the soldiers, who were assigned to the 23rd Regiment Motorized Cavalry of the Mexican army, claimed that they had become disoriented while on patrol on the Mexican portion of the area and had accidentally crossed into the United States.
"When agents encountered them, they told the agents they were lost," Vik said. "As it turns out, the area where they crossed is very deceptive. There is nothing there to indicate, other than the low banks on either side that it is a river. To someone who is not familiar with the area it is an understandable mistake."
Vik said the soldiers also stated that they had run out of gas.
The soldiers, weapons and vehicle were returned to Mexico, Vik said, and remanded into the custody of their commanding officer.
Vik added the incident remains under investigation, but that the incursion has been determined to be accidental.
CBP Office of Internal Affairs was also notified of the incident.
---
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.
http://www.yumasun.com/news/arrested_45500___article.html/border_crossing.html