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Border Patrol Harrassment in Amado
by a grandmother
Wednesday, Dec. 05, 2007 at 7:46 PM
The below was published December 1 in THE CONNECTION, an excellent, free, monthly paper published in Amado and available at the Green Valley Library and other sites. It will also be posted on http://junesrag.pbwiki.com for anyone who wants to click into it.
Border Patrol Incident
7:30 am
November 27, 2007
I was forcibly pulled over by the Border Patrol on my way to work. I
have traveled the Arivaca Road every day for the past 10 years,
mostly without incident. I have been harassed a few times. Bright
lights in the rear view mirror, tailgating etc. But up until now I
haven’t ever had any real trouble. I’ve heard stories of people being
hurt, held at gunpoint, forced from their vehicles. This list goes
on. My sister was hit in the face, dragged from her vehicle, thrown
to the ground and handcuffed with her face in the dirt. I can’t say
that in light of these things I feel very safe when it comes to the
Border Patrol
I have always been told, in every self-defense class, even those
taught by law enforcement, that you should go to a populated area
before you pull over for anyone you don’t know including law
enforcement. Slow down, pull over to the right side of the road as
far as possible without leaving the pavement and continue to drive
slowly until you reach a populated area.
Border patrol turned on their flashing lights behind me at about the
20 mile marker after following me for about 4 miles. I did what I was
taught. I slowed down to 20 miles per hour, pulled to the side of the
road and continued to drive. They followed me for a little ways and
then the first Border Patrol pulled in front of me and cut me off. I
hit the brakes and the second Border Patrol sandwiched me in. Both
jumped out of their vehicles and pulled their guns. They screamed at
me several times to get out of my vehicle. I told them no and they
continued screaming at me. “Roll down the window. Get out the
vehicle. Why do you hate authority?” etc. I tried to explain that I
was moving slowly toward a populated area. I told them that stories
of abuse abound. Just a mile down the road was the Cow Palace. There
would be people there.
He told me “No, you’ve already proven that you’re going to run.
They finally allowed me to pull to the side of the road so that we
weren’t obstructing traffic. Five more BP showed up. I didn’t leave
my vehicle. They called the Pima County Sheriff.
The sheriff came. He asked for my ID and I gave it to him. I told him
they had pulled their guns on me. He told me that I could be charged
with a felony for not stopping immediately. I explained to him that
my sister had been abuse by them and that I just wanted to get to a
safe place before I pulled over. He then told me that I had only to
pull over and show them my ID. Other than that I’m not required to do
anything further.
We waited until they ran a check on me. He handed me back my ID and
told me I could go. They never told my why I was pulled over.
For the record I am a 49 year old grandmother. I have blond hair and
blue eyes. I drive a small truck and I work at a book store.