South Texas deputies authorized to fire into Mexico

Houston Chronicle ^ | Oct. 17, 2008 | CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN

[SwinneySwitch]

EDINBURG — Authorities in South Texas said today that they won't be intimidated by increasingly violent drug smugglers, announcing a larger Border Patrol presence and that more heavily armed deputies will be authorized to return fire across the Mexican border.

Operation "River Freedom Denial" will target areas along the Rio Grande in the southern tip of Texas where violence has risen lately with more ground and air resources, said Border Patrol sector chief Ronald Vitiello.

Standing with a Texas Department of Public Safety captain and the Hidalgo County Sheriff, Vitiello cited an exchange of gunfire between his agents and drug smugglers Monday and another incident this week of a smuggler ramming an agent's truck in making his escape.

Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino said the deputies he will assign to the operation along the river will all be issued fully automatic rifles and authorized to return fire.

"We are not going to be intimidated by the increased aggression," Trevino said.

He recalled an incident in 2006 when more than 300 shots were fired across the river at his deputies and Border Patrol agents. At that time he decided to pull his deputies back from the river for their safety.

Not this time.

"If fired upon we will respond in kind," he said.

Tension along the border has increased this week with a shootout in downtown Matamoros, Mexico across the river from Brownsville, Thursday afternoon and shots fired at or near the U.S. Consulate in Monterrey, Mexico twice this week. In the first incident, a grenade was lobbed at the consulate that did not explode.

Vitiello and Trevino declined to offer more details about the operation, content with sending a message that law enforcement at all levels along the border is cooperating and will not tolerate violence.

[SwinneySwitch]

Operation "River Freedom Denial"

[traumer]

[Dallas59]

Racism!/s

[DoughtyOne]

It gets my vote.  These aren't simply Mexican citizens trying to enter our nation.  It will be interesting to see how long it takes for these cartel members to start using human shields though.


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[Brian S. Fitzgerald]

Does Bush know about this yet? I’ll bet not!

[cripplecreek]

The white house isn’t going to like this one bit.

[Flavius]

bout d.mn time

[VR-21]

Curse you for posting that pic before I could!

[cripplecreek]

The white house isn’t going to like this one bit.

[MrPiper]

I want to go. Where can I enlist to shoot back. I bet I get no answer!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[e_castillo]

Full auto bump...

[SwinneySwitch]

“Operation River Freedom Denial” Conference Video

http://www.themonitor.com/video/index.php?bcpid=1155236419&bclid=1155327278&bctid=1863291466

[smokingfrog]

FIRE in the hole!!

[djf]

Last war with Mexico it only took us what, like four days, to take Mexico City?

Somebody better tell them to forget about bringing a taco to a gunfight!

[ladyvet]

Yeeeessss!!!!

[Navy Patriot]

I suspect they will need a few holes in their bodies to prove to Johnny Sutton the they were fired on, and if the Mexican drug dealer says the Border Patrol fired FIRST, well, it would be a good idea to file their report from Brazil.

[Man50D]

National security is at risk with illegals flooding the country. McCain support amnesty for illegals and yet many who oppose amnesty support McCain

People can't have it both ways. They can't fight the war on terror while supporting candidates who will make it easier for foreigners to invade the country with entry through our southern border.

[river rat]

Wow!

It took YEARS to come to this decision to fire back when fired upon??????

We’re doomed....we’ve become too damned stupid and timid to survive...

[itsthejourney]

I didn’t know there were any Mexicans still in Mexico.

[SwinneySwitch]

NO-BAMA