Border Death

On June 9 at 8:30 p.m., 20-year-old Jose Carlos Martinez-Carrillo met an untimely, and, in my opinion, unnecessary death. He was struck and killed by a U.S. Border Patrol van near Interstate 5 in San Ysidro, only a quarter-mile from the border. He was accompanied by his brother, Efrain, and two other men as they attempted to enter the country illegally.

Although entering the country illegally violates federal law, it is only a misdemeanor once in the country and usually results only in that person being returned to their country of origin. However, for too many undocumented immigrants it has resulted in either a death sentence or injuries, as a result of being shot or beaten by Border Patrol, or run over and killed, like Martinez-Carrillo and 14-year-old Luis Eduardo Hernandez in August, 1989.

The agent responsible for the death of Martinez-Carrillo, William Hughes, claims in his report to the California Highway Patrol that the four men ran from behind bushes onto the road where they were hit. Whether the four men emerged from the bushes or were being pursued, as in previous incidents, it is the Border Patrol’s job and responsibility to be aware of the immigrants’ presence in the border area at all times, as well as to proceed with the utmost caution when pursuing or apprehending them.

Someone should remind U.S. Border Patrol officials that their job is to detect and apprehend people crossing into the country illegally, not use their vehicles in a careless and irresponsible way to stop them. The real tragedy here is that Martinez-Carrillo’s death could have been avoided. This is one freeway fatality that should never have happened.

ROBERTO MARTINEZ

Director

American Friends Service Committee

U.S./Mexico Border Program