DPS: Officers Fired Upon by Gangs in Mexico
U.S. law enforcement officers in Hidalgo County today received heavy weapons fire from Mexico, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The exchange happened when law enforcement officers participating in a multi-agency Texas Ranger Recon operation attempted to interdict a load of drugs. Three law enforcement patrol boats were notified of a suspicious vehicle and two recovery boats on the U.S. side of the border. They were fired on when they arrived at the scene.
DPS spokeswoman Tela Mange said the department was unable to confirm if any U.S. law enforcement personnel were wounded in the ...
Comments (24)
Dale Curry
So any of your tparty types ready to address Comprehensive Immigration Reform, or do we have to wait until a DPS officier is killed.
Dan Bayes
Mr. Curry - How the heck do you make the leap from "immigration reform" to drug runners? That is just stupid. Get a grip!
Heath Kent
I believe the headline says the bullets came from Mexico. We ought to be able to shoot em when they're across the river.
Robert Greene via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Why we haven't done an air strike when this happens I'll never know. Isn't firing at authorities on U.S. soil from another country considered an act of war?
Daniel M. Kowalski via Texas Tribune on Facebook
This can't be good; now Perry will want to nuke the border...
Robert Greene
Why we haven't done an air strike when this happens I'll never know. Isn't firing at authorities on U.S. soil from another country considered an act of war?
Sharon Erdely
This is one of the major things that our government should be looking at. Not Afganistan, not Iraq, and not Libia. I don't read the papers any more because I am leary of the printed articles. When you know that one man (George Soros) is in charge and owns more than 85% of the new media I doubt the only view you will hear will be his version. We need as a Nation to work together to end Obama's reign of Obama, especially that Obamacare.
We need to work on securing our country's borders from the seas, both North and South of the United States. Not that Canadians would want to run to our sign. We have more drugs being brought by the drug cartels of any Nation, and it is not always for the poor. A lot of Rich people who feel they are above the law probably use more drugs than the street person. We have people being kidnapped and sold and its almost like no one cares. We need to concentrate on the American people, jobs, having homes again without a bank throwing them out. Obama bailed out the banks and what do the banks do they start foreclosures on good people. A lot of the loans were put through illegally. Was anything done to slap their hands. I doubt it. But we could start doing productive things that we know our President has done that were illegal under the constitution (which he and the people he appointed for judges). They should never be appointed for life. As a Tea Party Member I would like to see Troops cleaning up our borders than fighting for people who we give money to and then borrow it back. Only Obama would think that is okay. I heard that the Senate or the Congress (my memory is not that great) has given him 14 days to come up with a reason for getting us into Lybia.
All of you keep up the good work and myself and others like me will pray that we can get Obama's ass kicked out and a more honest government.
richvillegal2
Sharon Erdely
This is one of the major things that our government should be looking at. Not Afganistan, not Iraq, and not Libia. I don't read the papers any more because I am leary of the printed articles. When you know that one man (George Soros) is in charge and owns more than 85% of the new media I doubt the only view you will hear will be his version. We need as a Nation to work together to end Obama's reign of Obama, especially that Obama care.
We need to work on securing our country's borders from the seas, both North and South of the United States. Not that Canadians would want to run to our side. We have more drugs being brought by the drug cartels than of any Nation, and it is not always for the poor. A lot of Rich people who feel they are above the law probably use more drugs than the street person. We have people being kidnapped and sold and its almost like no one cares. We need to concentrate on the American people, jobs, having homes again without a bank throwing them out. Obama bailed out the banks and what do the banks do they start foreclosures on good people. A lot of the loans were put through illegally. Was anything done to slap their hands. I doubt it. But we could start doing productive things that we know our President has done that were illegal under the constitution (which he and the people he appointed for judges). They should never be appointed for life. As a Tea Party Member I would like to see Troops cleaning up our borders than fighting for people who we give money to and then borrow it back. Only Obama would think that is okay. I heard that the Senate or the Congress (my memory is not that great) has given him 14 days to come up with a reason for getting us into Lybia.
All of you keep up the good work and myself and others like me will pray that we can get Obama's ass kicked out and a more honest government.
richvillegal2
Jose B. Gonzalez via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The US should station a few Marine attack helicopters in the area and anytime our law enforcement is fired upon from across the border - the Marine attack helicopters should be allowed to IMMEDIATELY return fire...
Any questions or complaints from the Mexican government should be answered with a standard reply of - We the United States of America WILL return fire on anyone who fires upon our law enforcement officers and into our country, it is our right to defend ourselves and our country - we make no apologies nor will we change our rules of engagement...PERIOD...
Jose B. Gonzalez via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Robert: An act of war would be if the Mexican government ordered their military to fire into the US... These are thugs who work for organized crime syndicates but that doesn't mean we are unable to defend our law enforcement personnel from attacks such as this...
scottunzicker
I know a great way to ameliorate, if not downright eliminate, these sorts of altercations. De-incentivize the drug trade by decriminalizing or outright legalizing currently illicit substances.
Do you think the drug cartels would go through all this trouble and risk if their market (i.e. U.S. drug consumers) could go down to their local Walgreens, and get a quarter bag of high-quality weed for the same price they're paying now?? No way, man. Legalize all of it (just like alcohol and tobacco), tax it (just like alcohol and tobacco), and watch the border detente almost overnight.
A small observation on the presentation of this story, btw: Handguns, such as the Glocks and Springfield XD depicted next to the title of the story, do not constitute "heavy weapons fire." Perhaps pictures of an AK47, or M4 (M16) would be more appropriate, though they don't REALLY fall under the category of "heavy weapons."
Michael Cosper via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Just more of the border violence that doesn't happen on the border according so some elected officials, Reyes?
Mary Lynn VanZandt Neill via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Michael,you've got Reyes dead to rights(pardon the expression).You'd think as an EX Border Agent...aww,never mind. We absolutely CAN defend ourselves,and should.This is obviously becoming way,way too frequent.BS,let's DO something!
Gigi ATexaslady via Texas Tribune on Facebook
tried to "share" this with Reyes, but can't...his page won't accept it...that's one way to keep your head in the sand...if it isn't on your page...then it doesn't exist.
Dale Curry
@ Dan Bates- I have been told, quite extensively by readers on this site, that Drug running/cartels are heavily involved in illegal immigration. My point was to those arguments with previous readers and their comments. It has been my contention that many who claimed to be concerned with crime on our border, and illegal immigration are, in fact, more concerned with keeping the status quo and using these serious problems as a political football. Sorry, if my comment was not clear to you.
Dale Curry
@ Sharon Erdely:
Yes, our government is bogged down was in Afghanistan and Iraq, though Iraq is seemingly not of combat origin. Libya is not a war and should be considered a NATO operation. As to George Soros, you are mistaken and obviously taken in by some of the crazy talk by Glenn Beck. He is not a rational person, and is interested only in lying about the President and promoting the lies of the gop and tparty. As to the President’s health Insurance reforms (you referred to it as Obamacare), again you are spouting lies and misinformation. I can only assume you have been unable to tell the difference. I imagine prolonged exposure to the rants and ravings of Glenn Beck would do that to a person. As to the kidnappings, if this is in fact happening on such a scale, I have not heard about it. My suspect would be the ranting of Glenn Beck. A man that Fox News had to let go because they considered him damaging to their credibility. As if anyone other than a moron (no offense) would believe their lies and propaganda. Fox News is not a news service, but the propaganda arm of News Corp, a company that is owned by Rupert Murdock with heavy investment from a Saudi prince. As to Obama bailing out the banks, again this is a deliberate tparty lie and further misinformation; I encourage you to look it up. The Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) was initiated by George Bush. Whose policies and lack of management has left our nation crippled financially. While you, or others, might want to blame Obama, the truth is he was left to administer that, and a $1.3 trillion deficit. All the consequences of two wars, prescription drug coverage and refusing to pay for any of it. In fact, he gave away the surplus with his Tax cuts for the wealthy. As to “troops cleaning up our border”, this is not permitted under our laws. No, Obama did not do it. In 1878 our nation passed a The Posse Comitatus Act. This act severely limits the use of Federal Troops for Military Policing and law enforcement within the borders of the US.
So to sum it all up you are repeating tparty lies and dogma that are designed to incite you but bear VERY little truth. So, I would suggest you try to obtain news from a source other than Fox News. They and the tparty are clearly playing you for a fool.
Dale H Curry via Texas Tribune on Facebook
@ Sharon Erdely, sorry meant to post thru Facebook:
John Lyon via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Waiting for Mike McCaul to go absolutely nuts in five, four, three, two...
scottunzicker
Am I REALLY the only one discussing the root cause of the violence??
Dale Curry
@ Scott - Your suggestion of legalization has merit, especially for marajuana. As for more serious drugs, (e.g; meth, heroin, etc) I still have deep reservations about legalization
scottunzicker
@Dale - I appreciate your reservations. It should be noted, however, that tobacco and alcohol are arguably every bit as addictive as those substances you take exception to, and they are legal.
There's a difference between use and abuse for anything. Responsible adults should be allowed to do with their bodies whatever they want. There will ALWAYS be those who "can't handle it." Is it the government's job to protect us from our own bad decisions? I'd answer a resounding "NO!"
Imagine the billions we'd save by ceasing this failed war on drugs. Imagine the LIVES we'd save by legalization. Imagine the REVENUE we'd generate in taxes from the sale of the stuff. It makes NO sense to continue with the miserable failure that is American drug policy. How am I wrong?
Luisa Newton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Americans act like East Germans behind the former wall. The way to end this is to stop the stupid drug war
Dale Curry
@ Scott - Frankly, there is NOTHING that I disagree with on your last post. And the War on Drugs, like most of our wars, are luxuries we can ill afford. It has been and always will be a stupid war where the only beneficiaries are the drug enforcment agencies (billions) and the drug cartels. As to Marajuana, I have heard it expressed that this prohibition is a hold over from the Jim Crow Days. It is my understanding that when it was made illegal, it was predominantly used by blacks, and a large motivation behind making it illegal was to enforce Jim Crow style justice upon the minority. It is a stupid law, whose enforcement benefits no one but the Drug dealers, and in fact does great harm. So many people have ended up in prision, had their life ruined, and their rights (e.g. to vote) taken away over this plant. It less of a drug than alcohol. Back to the other drugs, I am open to your position and will give it more thought. Thanks for the post.
Mary Lynn VanZandt Neill via Texas Tribune on Facebook
GET the gangs~it's the survival of the fittest,meaning the US~according to some,we Americans began the war in the first place.Needed the drugs,you know. Typical attitude,simple and stupid.