MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico is demanding that U.S. Border Patrol agents stop using tear gas to protect themselves against increased attacks as they try to keep illegal immigrants from entering the United States.
Mexico’s Foreign Ministry also requested a U.S. probe into an incident last month where 15-year-old Cristian Saldana was struck in the nose by a tear gas canister after he threw stones at U.S. agents trying to stop people from crossing illegally from the Mexican border city of Tijuana near San Diego.
Saying the use of tear gas was unacceptable under any circumstances, the ministry sent a letter to the U.S. Embassy requesting the investigation and said it was also setting up talks with U.S. officials through its consular network.
Mexico’s human rights commission says Border Patrol agents have fired tear gas into Mexico at least six times since November.
“Launching tear gas does not contribute in any way to a climate of understanding and collaboration,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued late on Thursday.
The Border Patrol in Washington was not immediately available for comment but officials have told Reuters their border measures are aimed at upholding U.S. law.
Border-wide assaults on agents reached a record 250 between October 1 and December 16 last year, according to the latest U.S. figures.
U.S.-Mexico relations are strained over border issues as the United States increases its deportations of illegal immigrants and builds a fence along hundreds of miles (km) of the frontier with Mexico to keep out migrants without papers.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon says U.S. treatment of undocumented Mexican workers is “abusive” and amounts to persecution.
We will put NOT away the tear gas guns, and just for being a smart ass we are doing Tasers on a Stick!!!
No Tase mí Bro! I know that the illegals provide a great service to the American people. They can have all the meat packing plant jobs they can ‘take’, but trying to make us change our foreign policy is bullshit.
It’s Not Taser on a stick, but it’s close. Pretty darn cute if I say so!!
two tampons stuck together?
it’s a taser
It is a stun gun/taser. It’s just cute, same effect as the ones the police carry.
Re: it’s a taser
I know what it is…but it looks like two tampons. They are shaped EXACTLY like tampons.
Re: it’s a taser
The first thing I thought when I saw that is, “WTF kind of sex toy is that.” The had to be thinking that when they made it.