Published on May 5, 2014 by TomoNews US
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A U.S. government document obtained by a local TV station revealed that there have been at least 300 incursions by the Mexican military into U.S. territory over the past 18 years.
KVOA, an Arizona television station affiliated with NBC, obtained the document under the federal Freedom of Information Act.
One of the most recent incidents happened in March, when 19-year-old Javier Jose Rodriguez was ambushed and shot in the arm by Mexican soldiers for unknown reasons while he was driving in Sasabe, Arizona. The teenager had to be hospitalized for three weeks, incurring a medical bill of over $43,000.
The U.S. and Mexican governments also confirmed another incident that happened in January. According to a report by the Los Angeles Times in April, two heavily armed Mexican soldiers, who claimed to be hunting drug smugglers, crossed 150 feet into Sasabe, Arizona. After being discovered by U.S. Border Patrol agents, the troops pointed their firearms at the agents, who also drew their guns. The standoff lasted for about 35 minutes and only ended when the Mexican soldiers retreated back over the border.
Mexico insisted that the agents did not realize they had entered U.S. territory, despite the presence of a massive steel fence separating that portion of the U.S./Mexico border.
In an interview with KVOA, Ronald Ayers, an Arivaca resident, recounted an incident in which a Mexican army helicopter landed behind his barn in 2006.
“A helicopter flew very low. Flew around behind the barn, landed and then several men got out all clad in black with masks over their face and body armor, carrying what looked to be full automatic weapons,” said Ayers. After interviews with the FBI and Customs and Border Protection, he had not been informed of any further actions by both agencies.
The incursions have infuriated citizens living near the border. Some U.S. officials suspect that these incidents involved rogue troops hired by drug cartels.