(MintPress) – A recently-released autopsy report implicates U.S. border patrol in the killing of Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez, a 16-year-old Mexican national. Rodriguez’s October death was shrouded in mystery until the release of forensic findings Thursday which show the boy was succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds in Mexican territory.
The Mexican government lodged formal complaints with U.S. authorities claiming that border patrol agents used excessive force in the killing.
U.S authorities contested this account, claiming that an unnamed border patrol agent fired at a group of young men throwing rocks at U.S. agents. The young men were suspected drug smugglers, according to U.S. authorities.
The autopsy released Thursday shows that the Rodriguez was hit from behind in the head, neck and body. The deceased boy’s immediate family is considering a lawsuit against the U.S. government.
“I’m not saying it’s a clear case of excessive use of force, but it is a very strong case for excessive use of force,” said Luis Parra, a lawyer familiar with the case.
This is not the first time that U.S. border patrol has abused their power in their search for drug smugglers and illegal immigrants.
In July 2012, border agents killed Juan Pablo Perez Soto while the 30-year-old Mexican national was chopping firewood near the U.S-Mexico border. The Mexican foreign ministry was quick to criticize the suspicious killing, saying, “The Mexican government has said once again that the disproportionate use of force for purposes of immigration enforcement is unacceptable under any circumstances.” No further details have emerged since Soto’s death.
Harassment of Mexican-American citizens is becoming an increasing problem as well, especially in border states like Texas and Arizona. Arbitrary detentions, arrests and police intimidation have become a frequent occurrence, all conducted under the guise of immigration enforcement.
Former Arizona Gov. Raul Castro was detained by U.S. border patrol last summer. The 96-year-old Castro was held for more than 30 minutes outdoors in 100-degree summer heat while authorities questioned him about his citizenship.
Despite being a legal U.S. citizen, the elderly Castro was subject to inhumane conditions during his illegal, unconstitutional detention. Castro was later released free of charge after authorities verified that the former governor was indeed a U.S. citizen.
His case is by no means unique, as hundreds, perhaps thousands of others have been stopped and questioned about their citizenship merely because of their physical appearance.
The controversial “show me your papers” provision of Arizona’s controversial S.B. 1070 grants police broad powers to stop any individual and question their immigration status.