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By Theo Sitther, MCC Washington DC, currently working from MCC Mexico  

The border between Mexico and the United States visually represents one of the starkest realities of an unequal relationship between two nations. Mexicans along the border live under the constant shadow of U.S. militarism/aggression and an exploitative economic system. Poverty and violence along the border are exponential realities faced by thousands of Mexican citizens.

These realities rarely confront our sensibilities in the United States until the victims of this oppressive system call for attention and demand action. Araceli Rodriguez Salazar is one of these people who lives along the border and has been directly affected by the realities along the border. We recently met Araceli at a meeting where Mexican civil society organizations gathered to network and discuss their work along the border. Araceli spoke about how her son Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez was gunned down by U.S. Border Patrol agents while he was walking in Nogales, Sonora, a Mexican city across the border from Nogales, Arizona.

Cross-border shooting

On the night of October 10, 2012 Jose, a sixteen year old, was shot dead by Border Patrol agents for allegedly throwing rocks over the 18-20 feet border wall. Fourteen shots were fired with seven hitting Jose and killing him on the spot. The Border Patrol maintains that rock-throwing is considered an act of aggression and they were justified in using deadly force.

Araceli woke up the next morning not knowing where her son was. The family thought that he may be at a friend’s house or at his aunt’s house. While riding in a car looking for him, his brother Diego and aunt saw his picture on the front page of the newspaper announcing his death and the shooting by the Border Patrol.

Araceli spoke with fond memories of Jose, who wanted to finish high school and join the Federal Police. She told us that he was very close to her and often talked with her about his dreams for the future. Before he was killed, Jose was looking forward to riding in an airplane for the first time with his grandparents.

Border Patrol Impunity?

The U.S.-Mexico border in this case represents the death and destruction of innocent life. While the news media has reported of an FBI investigation, Araceli has not received any information about the perpetrators of this crime.

When we asked what she wanted, she simply said, “I want to know who the killers are and I want justice for my son’s death. What does the U.S. want? They are killing the future of Mexico.”

Unfortunately, Jose’s death was not the first to occur. According to “No More Deaths,” a U.S. organization that works along the border, at least 18 people have been killed by the U.S. Border Patrol since 2010. None of these cases have been fully investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice.

The United States and the Border Patrol must take responsibility for Jose’s death and must hold those who were involved in the shooting responsible. If this happens then perhaps the relationship between the two countries will become a little bit more equal.

Photos by Scott Nicholson, HEPAC

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  1. ovidio flores

    I am very sorry what happen jose s family n thaks for the report our church needs to know more about the people of south no only idonation but justice .I am very aware .of nmigreaton issues here en Centro America special en Honduras where I live . Thanks and peace .

  2. ovidio flores

    I am very sorry what happen jose s family n thaks for the report our church needs to know more about the people of south no only idonation but justice .I am very aware .of nmigreaton issues here en Centro America special en Honduras where I live . Thanks and peace .

  3. Adrienne Wiebe

    Thanks for your response, Ovidio. Hopefully we as Mennonite churches, and people of faith in general, can work towards justice on the border and for migrants.

  4. Adrienne Wiebe

    Thanks for your response, Ovidio. Hopefully we as Mennonite churches, and people of faith in general, can work towards justice on the border and for migrants.