On June 7, another Mexican youth fell victim to racist U.S. border and immigration policy. An unidentified U.S. Border Patrol officer shot Sergio Adrian Hernandez Güereca, a 15-year-old from Juarez Mexico, in the head while on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande. The shooting took place near the Chihuahuita neighborhood in South El Paso.
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The shooting has sparked grassroots mobilizations on both sides of the border.
Outrage erupted especially as a result of Güereca’s being shot on the Mexican side of the border. Shortly after the shooting, a U.S. Border Patrol spokesperson claimed that the officer had fired in self-defense, saying he had been surrounded and under attack by an unknown number of youths. It was also falsely reported that the youths had been throwing rocks at the officer, who was forced to use his weapon to protect his life.
A few days after the shooting, Univision released cell phone video footage that contradicts the official border patrol statement. In the video, several youth are seen on the U.S. side of the Rio Grande, then fleeing back to the Mexican side after a border officer appears on a bicycle.
Two youths remain on the U.S. side, and the officer draws his weapon and points it at the chest of one of the youth. The other teenagers run back to the Mexican side, and it is alleged that rocks were thrown at the officer around this time. A short time later, the same officer raises his weapon and fires several rounds into the Mexican side of the Rio Grande. A few seconds later Sergio Adrian lies dead.
Local grassroots and nonprofits on both sides of the border have responded with vigils to honor the victim, and have staged protests to denounce the tragic killing of another Latino youth at the border.
To date, thousands of people have died as a result of the so-called U.S. war on drugs and the U.S. war on immigrants. What makes this killing unique is that it comes during a time of growing anti-immigrant (mostly anti-Mexican) sentiment in the United States.
Anti-immigrant racism is growing due to the economic crisis, widespread unemployment and the media and government attacks against immigrant communities, which in effect give the green light to the most racist elements in society.
Since the mega-marches of 2006, hate crimes have increased against immigrants across the nation. Immigrants have historically been scapegoats during rough economic times. This is not unique, but the level of violence that has been committed by border patrol officers against immigrants has risen sharply. So far this year, 17 immigrants have been killed or beaten by members of the border patrol.
Killing may be a turning point
The fight for immigrant rights continues, and this recent killing of a 15-year-old teenager may in fact be a turning point for the movement. Growing numbers of activists and organizations across the United States and the world have denounced the abuses of force committed by border patrol agents.
A national day of action on the one-month anniversary is planned.
Recently President Obama authorized the deployment of 2,500 National Guardsmen to the U.S.-Mexico border. The only response from Republicans and Democrats to the mass movement for immigrant rights has been to increase the numbers of guns on the border, which will inevitably lead to more incidents like this one.
The current attacks on immigrants, encouraged by the repressive policies and inaction of the capitalist politicians in Washington, pose a serious threat to all workers. Change will not come from Washington. Only an independent class-conscious movement of immigrants and all working people can stop the current rise of anti-immigrant racism and oppression.
The workers struggle has no borders: Justice for Sergio Adrian Hernandez Güereca and his family!
