Mexico Seeks US Probe of Border Tear Gas

The Associated Press

Mexico has formally requested the United States investigate recent incidents in which Border Patrol officers fired tear gas onto the Mexican side of the border, the government said Thursday.

After being upbraided by the country's top human rights agency for failing to press Washington enough on the issue, Mexico's Foreign Relations Department issued a statement calling the tactic "unacceptable."

The Border Patrol says the tactic is necessary to protect its officers from increasing attacks by people hurling rocks and other objects at them from Mexico.

"Independently of whether these incidents are a response to hostile acts against Border Patrol agents by private citizens on the Mexican side, the Mexican government considers these actions by U.S. federal authorities to be unacceptable," Foreign Relations said in a statement.

The department said it sent a letter to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City on Jan. 15 requesting "a thorough investigation." It added that a Mexican boy was injured in one of the incidents, but did not give details.

The Border Patrol reported 987 attacks - many with rocks - on its agents during the 12-month period that ended Sept. 30, the most since it began keeping track in the late 1990s.