U.S. Border Agents Directed to Restrain Aggression Against Rock-Throwers
The U.S. Border Patrol told its agents Friday that when they confront suspected illegal immigrants crossing the frontier who throw rocks a them, they should try to take cover or move away instead of immediately opening fire, Reuters reports.
According to Michael J. Fischer, head of the Border Patrol, immigrant smugglers were increasingly using rock-throwing as a way to drive away patrols. Since 2010, agency personnel have opened fire 43 times, killing 10 people, in response to 1,713 rock-throwing attacks against them. Three officers had been killed in more than 6,000 assaults on agents since 2007.