Mexican immigrant, Anastasio Hernández Rojas,
murdered by law enforcement,
in sight of Mexico
Anastasio Hernández Rojas installed swimming pools for a living. He came to the U.S. when he was 14 looking for the American Dream. He met a beautiful girl named María Puga, and started a family. Over the next 32 years the couple established roots in the Encanto, California area. So far so good for Anastasio.
Unfortunately, the dream came to an end when Anastasio found himself in the hands of the San Diego Police Department. After resolving certain legal problems he was turned over to ICE and deported.
This case presents the classic problem of the undocumented immigrant who sets up house in the U.S. The immigrant starts a family. His children are U.S. citizens. He often buys a home, and frequently has his own business. But for his immigration status, he is a law abiding, tax paying resident of the U.S.
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Then comes the day he is driving down the street with expired tags, or with a tail light out, or he meets one of Sherriff “Little Joe” Arpaio’s goon squad officers. The undocumented immigrant finds himself in jail for an infraction for which a U.S. citizen might only be warned. Once the immigrant is in jail ICE places a hold on him. He can’t get a bond until he gets to the immigration detention center. Many don’t qualify for a bond. Without a good attorney the immigrant and his family are destined to be separated.
What does a father of five U.S. citizen children do when he finds himself on one side of an ugly fence and his wife, his children aged 4 to 20, his home and everything he has worked for is on the other side? The current answer is “too bad”. “Tough luck”. “Broken families don’t matter”, let’s pass profiling laws like Arizona SB 1070!
Anastasio Hernández Rojas tried to re-enter the U.S. Unfortunately, he was caught on Otay Mountain near Tijuana. On May 28th, 2010, he was sitting on the ground in shackles, waiting to be shoved over the border. His brother, Pedro Pablo Hernández, had also been apprehended and was with Anastasio.
According to the World Socialist Web Site “Pedro Pablo Hernández whose whereabouts are unknown and is presumed still in US custody, testified that he and Anastasio were seated on the ground in handcuffs when one of the agents kicked him in the chest and another kicked him in the leg. He said that Anastasio shouted at the agents to stop, but they only became more violent.”
A woman who was passing through the border transfer area saw the altercation. She reported the beating to the Mexican National Immigration Institute. She said the Border Patrol agents “were almost killing someone”. According to witnesses, about 20 border patrol agents swarmed over the defenseless man.
Anastasio tried to escape the pummeling. He crawled to an area where he was in view of his native land, Mexico, and where others could see what was happening. That is where he would die. Border Patrol agents allegedly used a stun gun on Anastasio and kicked him until his screams went silent and he quit moving. This was reported in the Mexican press, according to the World Socialist Web Site.
According to the San Diego Six cw, a television station, the Border Patrol had removed Anastasio’s hand cuffs and was leading him to US – Mexico gate. Reportedly, the determined immigrant made a run for the U.S. border says the M3 Report. It was a last ditch effort to be with his family, including his twin 4 year olds. More agents were called and the beating ensued. The San Diego Six says methamphetamine use and hypertension contributed to the death.
The truth usually lies somewhere in the middle between conservative reporting and social justice. One thing is sure, the coroner ruled the death a homicide. That supports witness reports about excessive use of force on an un-armed man.
May 28th is the same day a group of immigration rights activist protested in Senator John McCain’s office. McCain failed to show for a community meeting earlier in the day. Conservative voices continually refuse to meet with immigrant’s rights advocates while millions of undocumented workers suffer fear and repression.
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If you have video of this event please send it to us. Trust me, we will insure it is used to educate the American public about the injustice on the border! We will ensure it gets to the people who know will honestly investigate this tragic death!
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CIR provides solutions even a fool can see. Let’s pass CIR right now and stop the discrimination, the broken families, the lost dreams of students, the growing anger within the Hispanic community and the deaths. The fucking stupid tragic deaths that could be avoided with the stroke of a pen.
Please call your senator RIGHT NOW. Your action might be the last effort needed to pass common sense laws that save lives!
Anastasio Hernández Rojas, m3 report, san diego six, maria puga, Pedro Pablo Hernández, anastasio hernandez rojas, pedro pablo hernandez, cir, cir asap, john mccain, sb 1070, racial profiling, border deaths, illegal immigrants, immigration reform, rifa, cir asap, luis gutierrez, american friends service committee.
Technorati Tags: Anastasio Hernández Rojas,m3 report,san diego six,maria puga,Pedro Pablo Hernández,anastasio hernandez rojas,pedro pablo hernandez,cir,cir asap,john mccain,sb 1070,racial profiling,border deaths,illegal immigrants,immigration reform,rifa,luis gutierrez,american friends service committee,san ysidro border
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I hope that every American, regardless of where he lives, will stop and examine his conscience about this and other related incidents. This Nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened. All of us ought to have the right to be treated as he would wish to be treated, as one would wish his children to be treated, but this is not the case.
ReplyDeleteI know the proponents of this law say that the majority approves of this law, but the majority is not always right. Would women or non-whites have the vote if we listen to the majority of the day, would the non-whites have equal rights (and equal access to churches, housing, restaurants, hotels, retail stores, schools, colleges and yes water fountains) if we listen to the majority of the day? We all know the answer, a resounding, NO!
Today we are committed to a worldwide struggle to promote and protect the rights of all who wish to be free. In a time of domestic crisis men of good will and generosity should be able to unite regardless of party or politics and do what is right, not what is just popular with the majority. Some men comprehend discrimination by never have experiencing it in their lives, but the majority will only understand after it happens to them.
You speak eloquently and of the truth. Let's band together, liberal and conservative, for the greater good of the nation, for the benefit of millions of undocumented workers and their families and for you and me.
ReplyDeleteEqual treatment under the law, justice, compassion, these are democratic principals.
Let's pass comprehensive immigration reform today!