Weapons shift part of effort

 BY MORRIS THOMPSON
 Herald World Staff

 MEXICO CITY -- Hoping to reduce the death toll among Mexicans trying to enter the United States illegally, U.S. Border Patrol agents will begin using less-lethal weapons
 like rubber-coated bullets in a pilot program near San Diego.

 The decision, announced both here and in Washington, is a result of talks on immigration between the two governments that began when President Bush visited Mexican
 President Vicente Fox's ranch in February. Border control has been a major source of friction between the countries.

 The border safety agreement also calls for a U.S. review of the controversial tight-border policy that has steered Mexicans into dangerous and more remote crossings. At
 the same time, Mexico agreed to consider measures to prevent migrants from crossing over the most deadly deserts, canals and rivers.

 Mexican Deputy Foreign Secretary Enrique Berruga said the immigration talks are continuing and that a comprehensive package of proposals should go to both countries'
 congresses this year.

 The tone of declarations by the United States and Mexico on immigration issues has softened since the two presidents took office, Fox in December and Bush in
 January. Friday's announcement brought the first concrete change in operations.

 Mexico long has complained about what it calls human rights violations by U.S. law enforcement officers against illegal Mexican migrants, actions that occasionally have
 resulted in shootings and deaths.

 Berruga said the pilot program would start immediately and would seek to deter illegal migrants without killing them by using rubber-coated bullets, tear gas and what he
 called ``theatrical explosives.'' Another new weapon to be introduced in San Diego launches capsules of powdered pepper up to 100 feet.

 San Diego has been the scene in recent years of several shootings -- including three fatalities in 1999 -- involving agents who said they were defending themselves against
 rock-throwers.

 But Berruga said the catalyst for the new program was the dehydration deaths last month of 14 Mexicans in the Arizona desert after a smuggler abandoned them, an
 incident that highlighted the dangers Mexicans face in trying to cross the border illegally. Berruga said 157 Mexicans have died trying to cross the border this year.
 
 

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