Las Cruces, NM— A recent incident involving the United States Border Patrol (USBP) once again highlights the accountability of the institution that oversees the entry of undocumented foreigners into this country and that in some cases has been accused of abuse of authority.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico is calling for transparency and an impartial investigation after Border Patrol agents fatally shot a United States citizen at an immigration checkpoint.
On Sunday, April 2, USBP agents pursued a Nissan Rogue pickup truck west of Las Cruces on Interstate 10 (I-10) after it allegedly evaded a Border Patrol checkpoint, according to a statement issued by Customs. and Border Protection (CBP), the agency that oversees the Border Patrol.
Border Patrol agents used a vehicle immobilization device in an attempt to stop the Nissan. The pursuit continued on foot, with the driver allegedly hitting one of the officers with a “wooden club.”
The officers then fired 16 rounds at the driver, killing him at the scene.
The statement identified the dead man as an American and did not indicate whether he had been suspected of any criminal or immigration-related offenses, other than evading a checkpoint.
“It is critical that CBP provide maximum transparency about the circumstances of this tragic death in New Mexico. That includes moving forward with the immediate release of body camera footage to allow the public to see for themselves the events that led up to this shooting,” said Rebecca Sheff, senior staff attorney for the ACLU in New Mexico.
He added: “There also needs to be accountability for any misconduct by officers identified in the course of the investigation. It is what the victim of this shooting and their loved ones deserve, and what all New Mexicans expect of law enforcement in our state.”
According to authorities, the driver of the SUV drove a total of approximately 22.7 miles over approximately 49 minutes between the time he evaded the Border Patrol checkpoint outside Las Cruces and finally exited his vehicle. and walked north on C003, an unpaved road.
Approximately four minutes and 20 seconds elapsed between the time the driver began walking north on C003 after exiting his vehicle and the time the shots were fired. The driver, and officers following him during that time, traveled approximately 0.2 miles, CBP said.
It is not a unique case
Although the fatal shooting is being investigated by federal agencies and personnel from the Doña Ana Sheriff attended the scene, for the ACLU it is a constant recklessness on the part of the Border Patrol, which has claimed several lives in the Santa Teresa region.
Earlier this year, the ACLU called for another full investigation, after two men were killed and others injured in a rollover in Santa Teresa shortly after a Border Patrol agent launched a vehicle pursuit on Jan. 8.
The chase began near the intersection of Strauss Road and Pete Domenici Highway, and ended on Pete Domenici Hwy near mile marker 6, according to news reports and the Sunland Park Fire Department.
“This tragic incident is the horrific but predictable result of reckless pursuits by Border Patrol vehicles, which endanger the lives of people seeking asylum in the United States,” the human rights organization said.
“It is time for CBP to publish its revised vehicle tracking policy, which should prioritize best practices and the preservation of life,” he added.
In 2022, also in Santa Teresa, in July after a Border Patrol chase, two people died and another nine were injured, while in August, in another similar accident, one died and seven were injured.
Border Patrol vehicle chases have resulted in dozens of deaths in recent years. A 2019 ProPublica study examining more than 500 incidents found that one in three Border Patrol vehicle pursuits ended in a crash.
