By Trevor Hill

June 5, 2014 (San Diego)--Last week, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP) finally released a report written by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) in February of 2013, which criticized the Border Patrol’s Use of Force policies. The release comes after months of public pressure applied by faith leaders, border communities, and law enforcement since the leakage of some of the report’s findings last November. This event marks a significant victory for those who oppose excessive use of force and support increased transparency in government agencies.

By Miriam Raftery

February 6, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – The San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium (SDIRC) issued a press release last week headlined “Disturbing images show border agents encouraging children to shoot at migrant effigy.”

 In response, U.S. Border Patrol Assistant Chief Patrol Agent Rosario “Pete” Vasquez called statements in that release “unfortunate and false propaganda.”

November 28, 2013 (San Diego)-- Agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Air and Marine (OAM) and the Border Patrol interrupted a drug smuggling attempt involving air drops of marijuana bales from  an ultra-light aircraft Monday.  Authorities seized over 260 pounds of marijuana with a street value of $157,000. Two suspects were arrested, said Mary Beth Caston with the Border Patrol.

View a video at 10 News

November 27, 2013 (San Diego) --Border Patrol agents working near the U.S. /Mexico International Border yesterday were assaulted with rocks and bottles after pepper spray was used in an effort to stop a large crowd trying to enter the U.S.

According to the Border Patrol, on November 24, more than 100 people illegally crossed the International Border from Mexico one-quarter-mile west of the San Ysidro Port of Entry in the Tijuana River channel. 

By Miriam Raftery

April 19, 2013 (San Diego) – A jury today has acquitted U.S. Border Patrol agent Luis Fonseca of using unreasonable force.  Fonseca was shown on Border Patrol video strangling a migrant to unconsciousness while the undocumented migrant,  Adolfo Cesar Escobar, tood with his hands against a wall waiting to be fingerprinted at the Imperial Beach Border Patrol station. Jurors found the video evidence inconclusive.

“This sends the wrong message to Border Patrol and fuels a culture of impunity in the agency,” said Andrea Guerrero, Executive Director of Alliance San Diego in a statement released today.  The rights activist added, “It should never be acceptable to strangle someone who poses no threat, then kick him while he is down and walk away as if no harm had been done.”

March 13, 2013 (San Diego)-- In separate incidents this week, two U.S. Border Patrol agents were assaulted while performing patrol duties in San Diego County, the Border Patrol reports.

The first assault occurred Monday at approximately 8 p.m. in the Otay Mountain area, when a Border Patrol agent attempted to arrest a male undocumented Mexican national who had entered the U.S. illegally.  During the arrest, the suspect became assaultive and struck the agent in the face and head, according to a release issued by the U.S. Border Patrol today.  After a brief struggle, the agent was able to  detain the man.  The suspect is being held by the Department of Homeland Security pending charges for assault on a federal agent.

November 28, 2012  --  (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL/REGIONAL

• Refugee grateful for new life in new country (U-T San Diego)
• San Diego Congressmen get campaign contributions for domestic drone support (San Diego Free Press)
• Report: We’re in the midst of a housing recovery (U-T San Diego)
• Witness to deadly shooting by border patrol agent disputes official account (10 News)
• El Cajon working to reduce pedestrian deaths (U-T San Diego)
• Border economy to see greater emphasis under Filner administration (San Diego Free Press)
• David Copley dies at 60; heir to Union-Tribune fortune was once worth $1.2 billion  ( La Jolla Patch)
• Republican activist seeks ouster of Tony Krvaric as GOP Chairman (Ramona Patch)
• New Lakeside fire station opens (East County Californian)
• El Capitan cross country team runs to state championship  (East County Californian)
• Deputies break up 20-man brawl at Carlton Oaks bar (Santee Patch)
• Ocotillo: worker airlifted after falling ( IV Press)
• SDG&E makes last push to bill users for wildfires (U-T San Diego)

STATE

• Unemployment checks to stop for 400,000 Californians (U-T San Diego)
• Erin Brokovich town faces new threat from utility company (NPR)
• Democratic power in state capitol has its limits (Sacramento Bee)
• California elected officials set to take pay cut (Sacramento Bee)
• First cap and trade auction a bust for California budget (Sacramento Bee)
• California man accused in plot to join al Qaeda denied bail (Reuters)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

September 25, 2012 (San Diego ‘s East County) –  With the fires in the East County all to recent, many emergency providers were called in to action. What about other sorts of emergencies? Who do you call to get help in an emergency? How can you report abuse, find road reports, file a noise complaint, or report a mountain lion sighting in your neighborhood? The Alpine Sheriff’s office  as provided this handy list of phone lines to help in these situations and many others.  Read more for the full list: 

Compliments of the Sheriff’s Alpine Deputies: 

August 23, 2012 --  (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include: 

• City races start to heat up in East County (UT San Diego)
• 11-year-old accused of fatally stabbing friend found mentally incompetent to stand trial (Santee.Patch.com)
• Retired Border Patrol union president indicted (10 News)
• Group hoping to save ECPAC continues fight (UT San Diego)
• Where parolees live in San Diego: map (Voice of San Diego)
• San Diego Gas & Electric wind projects draw national notice (KCET)
• As heat dries land and lake, asthma fears rise in Imperial County(KPBS)
• Summer of hate concert came to El Cajon (San Diego Citybeat)
• High costs of bonds shocks Poway Unified School District (UT San Diego)

• Democratic lawmakers move to oppose rewriting CA environmental laws (Sacramento Bee)
• SoCal groves report new cases of lethal citrus bug (Sacramento Bee)
• Man dies after contracting rare rodent disease at Yosemite (CBS)

• Health insurance rebates due next week across California  (Sacramento Bee)
• California Parks Director resigns amid scandal (Sacramento Bee)
• Prop 32 opponents blast measure as flawed, unfair (Sacramento Bee)
• 4^th night of unrest in Anaheim as protesters confront police (San Diego Free Press)
• Will California’s controversial desalination plant get off the ground?  Here’s the last hurdle it faces (Alternet)

• Foreclosures plummet in San Diego County (UT San Diego)
• Council won’t sign PBID yet (La Mesa Today)
• San Diego: America’s Olympic capital (UT San Diego)
• Lakeside’s Long new face of Olympics (UT San Diego)
• Abuse of power allegations levied against Border Patrol (10 News)
• Video shows border agent destroying water for migrants (10 News)

April 20, 2012 (San Diego) – San Diego resident Anastasio Hernandez Rojas was beaten and Tasered to death in a 2010 incident involving Border Patrol.  Tonight at 7:30 p.m. members of his family, civic and faith leaders will gather to watch new footage on “Need to Know”, a film that will raise the issue of border brutality to national attention.

Deadline to R.S.V.P. is Friday, March 16

March 14, 2012 (San Diego) – The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Citizen’s Academy is offering classes beginning March 24 to provide the community with information which will familiarize them with CBP’s mission and goals.  CBP is one of the Department of Homeland Security’s largest and most complex components, with a priority mission of keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the U.S.

July 16, 2011 (San Diego) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Otay Mesa cargo facility discovered 1,420 pounds of marijuana in boxes of serrano chili peppers Wednesday evening. 

On July 13, a Mexican citizen, 27, entered the cargo port driving a 2000 International tractor and pulling a refrigerated trailer with cargo manifested as chili peppers. A CBP officer noticed the driver’s nervous demeanor and referred the conveyance for an intensive examination.

April 12, 2011 (San Diego) – Marcos Manual Rodriguez Perez, 26, was captured and taken into custody today in Tijuana. The director of Tijuana Municipal Police, in a prepared statement, identified Perez as the killer of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Robert Rosas Jr, who was killed in an ambush near Campo in July 2009.