29 Oct 2012
At the Texas Border, Death Rained from the Sky
The Guatemalan migrants who tried to make it to America last week no doubt expected trouble along the way, but I'm guessing they could not, in their wildest nightmares, have imagined being gunned down from the skies by a Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter. Two immigrants dead, a third wounded. The shooter is on administrative leave. The pretext for the shooting? "DPS aircraft joined the pursuit of the suspected drug load, which was traveling at reckless speeds, endangering the public." But no drugs were found, and the truck was on an isolated, rural dirt road. Who, precisely, was endangered? The Texas Rangers must perform a thorough investigation. If they lack the necessary independence (they are part of DPS,) the FBI should take over. And if Texas is found liable for these deaths, compensation must be paid.
Migrants without papers should expect arrest and deportation; they should not face summary execution.