Two separate incidents force closing of Mexican Port of Entry

By Francisco Barrios
Douglas Dispatch
Published/Last Modified on Thursday, January 12, 2012 9:31 AM MST


Two separate incidents caused the closing of the Mexican Port of Entry the night of January 10 and early morning of January 11.


Mexican Customs ans Military personnel guard the entrance at the Port of Entry in Agua Prieta on the night of January 10 while it was closed.

The Mexican Port of Entry remained closed for three and a half hours on the night of January 10, due to an incident that involved Mexican Customs allegedly shooting several rounds towards an unidentified pick-up that apparently was trying to run away from them.

Mexican authorities stopped traffic heading into Mexico from the U.S. but traffic coming into the U.S. continued to flow.The Mexican Port re-opened shortly after midnight.

The second incident occurred around 6:45 a.m. on January 11, when a white pick-up crashed into one of the two entrances to cross through the Mexican Port of Entry. The Port was re-opened around 11:15 a.m.

Both incidents involved vehicles and drivers who failed to stop for the CBP officers conducting outbound inspections of vehicles leaving the country.

Mexican officials said they were unable to comment on any of the two incidents.

Copyright © 2013 Douglas Dispatch

Comments

    Thin Blue Line wrote on Jan 22, 2012 9:07 PM:

    " I agree with Sport. It's not simple to attempt to stop a fleeing vehicle that comes through the Port at 70 mph. You just can't shoot, you have to weigh your options and make sure the public is safe. Their hands are tied due to policy's. They are doing the best job they can with the limited resources that they have. The main problem is the design of the port. To the Officers keep up the good work and no matter what you do there will be someone who has critisim but yet they won't wear the badge and do the job. "

    me wrote on Jan 16, 2012 1:10 PM:

    " It'll be funny to hear people complain after the port of entry starts to adjust strategies for outbound due to these incidents which will ultimately lead to increased wait times when traveling to Mexico.

    Thank God that none of the Officers were hurt from either port. "

    Felipe wrote on Jan 14, 2012 5:57 PM:

    " BOYCOTT MEXICO!
    Mexico spent so much money on celebration of its birthday while its people are hungry and without jobs. I am embarrassed to be a Mexican right now. Mexico is muy malo! "

    Sport wrote on Jan 14, 2012 9:35 AM:

    " To Domingo: The problem isn't the officers, it's just that the outbound area is too close to Mexico. In other ports there is a buffer zone in the outbound area. Here it's a straight shot to MX. Even if they puncture the tires of the vehicle it will still make it. And they can't just shoot any vehicle that runs because that would risk hitting any bystanders in the area. Your post shows how uneducated you are regarding the issue. Also, these incidents tend to happen in the morning or at night. In both these hours there is no traffic. The smugglers know this and know this is the easiest time to run, which is why they do it. It is very easy to make it through CBP. Basically their hands are tied as to what they can and can't do regarding drive-thrus. Now the truth is people aren't upset because these trucks made it through. They are upset because they had to wait to go into MX. Too Bad. If you and everyone else has to wait 8 hours in line so be it. There's nothing you can do about it. "

    UM.... Domingo.. wrote on Jan 13, 2012 4:20 PM:

    " Help me understand how you stop a man in a biycle (correct spelling is bicycle). "

    Domingo Corrales wrote on Jan 13, 2012 2:46 PM:

    " First of all, I'm sure if the CBP officers had fired a shot at the vehicles you'd be complaining that they used excessive force as most people did when the young man was shot and killed by Border Patrol Agents. The answer isn't always to fire their weapon.
    Secondly, spikes were used but to no avail.
    Lastly, learn how to spell. Talk about a waste of tax payer's money... I feel sorry for the school you attended growing up. "

    Domingo Corrales wrote on Jan 12, 2012 10:19 AM:

    " theres only two ways here..CBP LET THESE TWO VEHICLES PASS (NOT DOING THERE JOB DO TO BEING SCARED)...OR THEY JUST LET MEXICAN OFFICIALS TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE...CANT BELIEVE ITS THAT EASY TO PASS GOING SOUTH AND IGNOR THE "ATTEMPT" BY CBP TO STOP...WHAT GOOD THEY FOR THEN?...WITH ALL THEM RIFFLES AND "SECURITY" THEY HAVE...ALL THEY DO IS WASTE PEOPLES TIME AND SPEND OUR TAX MONEY...ITS EASIER TO PASS SOUTH WITH A TRUCK FULL OF WEAPONS THAN TAKING CARE OF A 3YR OLD....ITS EMBARRASSING THEY CANT EVEN STOP A MAN IN A BIYCLE GOING SOUTH! MIGHT AS WELL SEND THEM HOME AND SEND THEIR CHECKS TO THIER HOUSE. "

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