Tancredo: Deploy Troops to Stop Mexican Incursions

From Congressman Tancredo's Office:

Congressman Cites Mexican Military’s Recent Armed Assistance in Transporting Drugs Into U.S.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO) today called on the federal government and the governments of southern border states to immediately deploy troops to the U.S.-Mexico border in light of recent armed assistance ’s military has given to drug smugglers.

Mexican military officers and drug smugglers led a standoff against more than 30 law enforcement officials east of El Paso, yesterday. According to the FBI and local sheriffs, law enforcement was tipped off to three SUVs carrying drugs across the Rio Grande River. When the sheriffs arrived at the crossing, they saw a Mexican military vehicle equipped with mounted machine guns on the side of the river waiting to escort the SUVs into the U.S.

The caravan turned back to Mexico, but only one SUV made it back—one SUV got caught in the river and was set ablaze by the Mexican military, and the other was captured by the sheriffs and found to contain more than 1400 pounds of marijuana. When called for help, a Border Patrol agent told the sheriffs’ dispatchers, “If you want to get your a** shot over a load of dope go ahead, but we’re not coming.” Apparently, some border patrol units showed up after the incident was over.

“Our border has literally turned into a war zone with foreign military personnel challenging our laws and our sovereignty,” said Tancredo. “The Mexican military is using its overwhelming firepower to hold the U.S. Border Patrol and other law enforcement at bay. The only way to deal with this dangerous situation is to tap the resources of our own military. I call on President Bush and the Governors of border states to immediately deploy military personnel to defend our borders against the Mexican military.” ...

Tancredo: Deploy Troops to Stop Mexican Incursions