2 Mexican soldiers stopped on U.S. side
By Daniel Borunda / El Paso Times
Posted: 01/17/2009 12:00:00 AM MST
EL PASO -- Two Mexican soldiers and a security guard were temporarily detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers after crossing into United States on Friday at the Paso del Norte Bridge in Downtown El Paso, a CBP spokesman said.
The guard and uniformed soldiers, who were armed, were stopped about 2 p.m. near the foot of the bridge on the U.S. side, said Roger Maier, a spokesman for Customs and Border Protection. The type of firearm carried by the soldiers was not immediately available.
The three detainees were interviewed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, released without charges and returned to Mexico, Maier said.
"It was determined these individuals were attempting to perform an operation to remove illegal vendors from the bridge and were attempting to seek assistance, cooperation from U.S. authorities at the bridge," Maier said.
The soldiers had been in the Juárez area for only a couple of days and were not familiar with border-crossing protocols, Maier said.
Mexican military officials with Joint Operation Chihuahua said in a statement that soldiers of the 75th Infantry Battalion were chasing a suspicious person who ran into U.S. territory. Officials praised the "excellent" cooperation of U.S. authorities.
The border line is set at the middle of the top of the international
bridges.
On Monday, the Mexican army sent an estimated 2,000 new soldiers to Juárez as part of a rotation of soldiers. Soldiers, including military police, can regularly be seen posted on international bridges checking vehicles leaving and entering Mexico.
Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com; 546-6102.
Posted: 01/17/2009 12:00:00 AM MST
EL PASO -- Two Mexican soldiers and a security guard were temporarily detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers after crossing into United States on Friday at the Paso del Norte Bridge in Downtown El Paso, a CBP spokesman said.
The guard and uniformed soldiers, who were armed, were stopped about 2 p.m. near the foot of the bridge on the U.S. side, said Roger Maier, a spokesman for Customs and Border Protection. The type of firearm carried by the soldiers was not immediately available.
The three detainees were interviewed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, released without charges and returned to Mexico, Maier said.
"It was determined these individuals were attempting to perform an operation to remove illegal vendors from the bridge and were attempting to seek assistance, cooperation from U.S. authorities at the bridge," Maier said.
The soldiers had been in the Juárez area for only a couple of days and were not familiar with border-crossing protocols, Maier said.
Mexican military officials with Joint Operation Chihuahua said in a statement that soldiers of the 75th Infantry Battalion were chasing a suspicious person who ran into U.S. territory. Officials praised the "excellent" cooperation of U.S. authorities.
The border line is set at the middle of the top of the international
bridges.
On Monday, the Mexican army sent an estimated 2,000 new soldiers to Juárez as part of a rotation of soldiers. Soldiers, including military police, can regularly be seen posted on international bridges checking vehicles leaving and entering Mexico.
Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com; 546-6102.