The following article was originally published on Impacto on March 5, 2024.
On October 10, 2012, U.S. border guard Lonnie Swartz shot and killed 16-year-old José Antonio Elena Rodríguez. Swartz fired 16 times across the border into Mexico, striking the child 10 times in the back and head.
He killed him and the family of José Antonio has been unable to obtain justice from the U.S. judicial system.
It’s alarming that U.S. border guards can fire into Mexico and kill people. A natural question arises: what would happen if someone on the Mexican side fired back across the border and killed a U.S. citizen? Similarly, what would the response be if Mexicans fired back at a U.S. guard who was shooting into Mexico?
Documentation exists for at least six such cases where no justice has been served. Activists believe there are likely other undocumented instances.
Every year, the family and friends of José Antonio keep his memory alive and remind people of the tragic event of his murder. When a family loses a loved one to violence anywhere, it shatters the hearts of those who knew them. This pain is amplified when the murder involves a border patrol agent, especially when the U.S. judicial system fails to deliver justice.
And on top of that, the lack of action from the Mexican government in demanding justice and potentially seeking to try agents like Lonnie Swartz in Mexico adds another layer of frustration.
Meanwhile, right-wing media and political candidates continue to demonize immigrants, portraying them as violent and immoral. They exploit isolated incidents of U.S. citizens being killed by immigrants, twisting the narrative into a supposed «tsunami of violence» at the Mexican border. The reality is that such cases are extremely rare.
Despite this, the right wing sensationalizes these isolated acts, ignoring the vast majority of immigrants who come to work, seeking a safe haven. They have no desire to influence our elections or commit violence in schools or places of worship. Notably, there is no footage of immigrants storming the Capitol to disrupt a presidential election.
Because the unjust violence by border guards is often forgotten, the family and friends of José Antonio continue to organize demonstrations and commemorations to keep his memory alive and fight for justice.
On April 13th, at the Christian Center at the University of Tucson, ministers and others gathered to honor José Antonio. A large plaque was unveiled in his memory. Ana Maria Vazquez of Bridges Across Borders, a longtime human rights activist, organized this event and another held the following day at the border wall in Nogales, Mexico, where José Antonio was killed.
Each program began with a performance by the dance group ABYA YALA of Magdalena, who presented a Palestinian dance. Palestinian representatives have expressed support for further investigation into these border killings. Following the dance, speakers took the stage, including I José Antonio’s family. Historical Mexican dancers and protest singers also performed.
I presented the first draft of a theatrical piece entitled «Dónde Están?» (Where Are They?). This piece highlights the six individuals killed by border patrol agents. A dramatic presentation focused on the section dedicated to José Antonio.
The targeting of immigrants and the border as a major political issue by the right will increase violence at the border but also fuel hate crimes against immigrants and Latinos in general. With all the problems within the USA and around the world, why does the right wing of America target the border and immigrants?
One person said that the hysteria by right wing Americans was pure racism knowing that voters respond to fear and don’t look for the facts. Everyone, not just Latinos, should stand with the immigrants to ensure that their rights are protected.
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