Mexican Troops Fire on U.S. Border Watchers

www.newsmax.com ^ | Dec. 23, 2003 | Jon E. Dougherty

[Tailgunner Joe]

An official with a civilian border group says a squad of Mexican soldiers opened fire on a position only moments after it was vacated by group volunteers patrolling private property near Douglas, Ariz.

Jack Foote, national spokesman for property protection group Ranch Rescue, told NewsMax a reconnaissance squad of his volunteers spotted two armed Mexican soldiers wearing green combat fatigues and Kevlar helmets on U.S. soil adjacent to property the group was asked to protect.

Foote said his volunteers, part of a mission Ranch Rescue dubbed "Operation Thunderbird," deployed at the landowner's request to interdict smuggling of illegal aliens and drugs on the property, reported the shootings about 5:22 p.m. Saturday. There were no injuries, and Ranch Rescue members, who are patrolling the property armed, did not return fire.

The group spokesman said the leader of the reconnaissance unit reported movement about 200 meters north of the landowner's southern boundary, a location near the U.S.-Mexico border.

"He waited until the first two soldiers moved into the clear. One was carrying an AK-47 and the other an RPK," a light machine gun version of the AK. "Both were wearing [olive drab] green fatigues and Kevlar helmets," Foote said.

Foote said the recon point man yelled in Spanish for the two soldiers to stop, but they turned around instead. Recon volunteers reported seeing the entire unit run back into Mexico. It wasn't clear how many Mexican soldiers had crossed into the U.S.

For safety, the volunteer recon unit moved to a different position, Foote said. About a minute later "the Mexicans fired on our squad's previous position." Members heard about six to eight shots fired, said Foote.

Mexican Embassy officials in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Incidents of Mexican troops crossing the international boundary into the United States are nothing new, say Border Patrol agents.

Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., head of the House Immigration Reform Caucus, says 115 incursions by Mexican military and police have been documented by the U.S. government since 1996.

"The purpose of these incursions is not totally understood, but U.S. officials have speculated that they are designed to help facilitate the flow of illegal drugs into America, either by creating a diversion or by providing cover for the traffickers," Tancredo says, on his caucus Web site.

Ranch Rescue has had its share of problems during operations. The landowner host for Operation Thunderbird, Casey Nethercott, was arrested Nov. 25 by federal authorities for failing to appear for a court date in Texas.

Nethercott and fellow Ranch Rescue volunteer Hank Connor were arrested by Texas authorities in March during a group operation on the property of Joe Sutton, near Hebbronville in Jim Hogg County. They were charged with allegedly detaining and beating two illegal aliens from El Salvador, allegations the group vehemently denied.

Foote said Nethercott's attorney told him Nethercott did not have to appear at the Texas hearing. The attorney said he would appear instead, but got sick and also missed the date. Foote said Nethercott's attorney filed papers with the court seeking a change in court date and explained the circumstances for missing the initial hearing, but Jim Hogg County prosecutors "pushed the issue and got a warrant issued for Casey."

Now, Arizona authorities are holding Nethercott on a "fugitive" warrant, but Nethercott is fighting the extradition to Texas. He remains in jail, Foote said, and will likely be there until February, unless bail can be arranged.

Federal officials also filed charges against Nethercott and Connor in the Hebbronville case, but eventually those were dropped.

[Spiff]

I've often defended civilian border watch groups such as American Border Patrol and others. However, I think Jack Foote, this Nethercott fellow, and the whole Ranch Rescue bunch are loose cannons. They are going to hurt the border reform movement far more than they will help it. I wish these whackjobs would go find another hobby before someone gets hurt.

[gubamyster]

ping

[lowbridge]

Ranch Rescue members, who are patrolling the property armed, did not return fire.

Dummies.

Foote said the recon point man yelled in Spanish for the two soldiers to stop, but they turned around instead. Recon volunteers reported seeing the entire unit run back into Mexico.

And let them get away. Double dummies.

[dirtboy]

I think Jack Foote, this Nethercott fellow, and the whole Ranch Rescue bunch are loose cannons. They are going to hurt the border reform movement far more than they will help it. I wish these whackjobs would go find another hobby before someone gets hurt.

Agree 100%. The pro-illegal crowd is doing their best to paint the border groups as nutbar militias, and Ranch Rescue is doing their best to help them in that endeavor.

[Spiff]

Dummies is right. I don't believe this story. Didn't Foote or anyone else think to take a picture of the Mexican troops on our soil? They have to offer more proof than this. I'm not buying it. Foote is not trustworthy and very much on the fringe.

[ysoitanly]

I respectfully disagree. I have relatives living on the Arizona border (I myself am in the biggest offender state, California), and I have to tell you as ranchers there (AZ), they have begged, pleaded, and done everything in their power to get law enforcement to DO SOMETHING. Their ranchlands get burned, dogs shot, fences ruined, property defecated and littered on, water looted, and houses robbed. Don't judge until you live there. BUSH NEEDS TO ENFORCE OUR FEDERAL LAWS.

[flamefront]

What does Mexican troops firing from positions "on US soil" mean to you?

Invasion is not an understatement.

[steplock]

If I saw armed banditos crossing over into my land, I would just have to fire back in self-defense ---- I still have my GOLD from the Far-Eastern Division Rifle Matches! I don't miss!

[steplock]

Do NOT rely on the govt TEAT!

That's what got us into this quagmire and it's going to take drastic measures to get us out.

Step #1: Forget about help from the Feds or State govts.
Step #2: Take responsibility for your own defense and bury all traces.

[Spiff]

I respectfully disagree. I have relatives living on the Arizona border (I myself am in the biggest offender state, California), and I have to tell you as ranchers there (AZ), they have begged, pleaded, and done everything in their power to get law enforcement to DO SOMETHING. Their ranchlands get burned, dogs shot, fences ruined, property defecated and littered on, water looted, and houses robbed. Don't judge until you live there. BUSH NEEDS TO ENFORCE OUR FEDERAL LAWS.

Ummm, I agree with your sentiments. I live in Cochise County, Arizona just a few miles from the border. Douglas, AZ - where this incident allegedly occurred - is also in Cochise County. This county is the primary corridor for the illegal immigration invasion.

I also know a number of the so-called "vigilantes" down here. I'm friends with some of them and support others. That makes me some sort of extremist radical or something. So, trust me when I express my distrust and apprehension of Foote and Nethercott's activities. I live here, I know the various groups, and I know the situation far better than you do. Foote and Nethercott are going to only cause problems that we don't need and hurt the border reform movement. The one silver lining is that he will make American Border Patrol and Civil Homeland Defense groups look positively mainstream in comparison. That is already happening with ABP as they are gaining local and national acceptance.

[HiJinx]

Don't judge until you live there.

We do.

There are three citizens' groups operating here. Ranch Rescue does not have a very good reputation here. The Sheriff had to defend them to the press, and I don't think he much enjoyed it.

[Spiff]

What does Mexican troops firing from positions "on US soil" mean to you?

It means I don't believe Foote's story.

[ysoitanly]

I'm 100% with you, brother, but let's remove the word 'quagmire' forever from our 2004 vocabularies. Aren't you sick of it? :) Merriest of Christmases!

[Doctor Stochastic]

One wonders why these guys don't have cameras and video recorders. Any good divorce PI would have lots of pictures.

[Spiff]

There are three citizens' groups operating here. Ranch Rescue does not have a very good reputation here. The Sheriff had to defend them to the press, and I don't think he much enjoyed it.

Actually, there's a fourth group made up of some militia rejects from out of state. No, I'm not talking about Ranch Rescue that is also made up of militia rejects. I don't think the 4th group even has a name, but they're around as I've seen reported in a couple of places.

[HardStarboard]

We need you and the British SAS sniper that took out an Iraqi at 2700 meters on the border in Arizona. I give the Mexican Army three days warning..."you on our soil, you are going to be taken out".

Then I'd turn you guys loose. About three head shots is all it would take to stop this nonsense.

[montag813]

a reconnaissance squad of his volunteers spotted two armed Mexican soldiers wearing green combat fatigues and Kevlar helmets on U.S. soil adjacent to property the group was asked to protect.

Based on this Administration's attitude, it was probably U.S. troops, under direct command of Karl Rove.

[HiJinx]

I know it's a pipe dream, but that's the reason we need organized 'troops' - State or Federal - operating here on the border.

Give the job to the professionals and let them take care of it.

Otherwise, somebody from Ranch Rescue (or the 4th group) is going to fire up somebody else who is trying to do the same thing and the Mexicans are just gonna laugh all the way to...well, wherever.