U.S. Soldiers ‘Fired Pepper Spray’ At Migrants Crossing Mexico Border

U.S. soldiers allegedly fired pepper spray at migrants who were attempting to cross the Mexico border, according to a human rights group.

It comes after reports emerged in August that immigrants trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas are being shoved into razor wire and fired at with pepper balls by law enforcement officials deployed under Governor Greg Abbott‘s Operation Lone Star.

The $11 billion program, enforced in 2021, was the brainchild of Abbott, who has said he was left with no choice because of the Biden-Harris administration’s lax response to illegal migration and border security.

Members of the Texas National Guard allegedly fired pepper spray projectiles—ball-shaped and filled with irritants—at arriving migrants, including women and children, who were not engaged in any threatening behavior, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch.

Under their own guidelines, Texas National Guard personnel should not fire the pepper balls directly at people and should use only as much force as is strictly necessary.

The pepper ball launchers, designed to fire munitions that contain chemicals that irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, are a recent addition to the arsenal.

These weapons resemble paintball guns and are powered by a carbon dioxide cartridge, with a capacity of approximately 180 rounds, as shown in a video uploaded to the official Operation Lone Star YouTube page.

On September 7, three witnesses claimed they observed a Texas National Guard member fire several shots at a migrant who had crossed onto the U.S. side of the Rio Grande near Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas.

According to the witnesses, the migrant was in or near the razor wire on U.S. soil and did not appear to be acting in a threatening manner.

“In separate incidents this summer, witnesses saw Texas National Guard members firing pepper spray projectiles at migrants who posed no risk to National Guard members,” Bob Libal, Texas consultant at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.

“The Texas legislature should respond by increasing its oversight over the Texas Military Department and denying funding increases to the department until these abuses stop.”

According to witnesses, the projectiles hit the migrant directly, causing the individual to fall to the ground.

The migrant allegedly did not receive aid from the soldiers, according to the human rights group.

The witnesses, observing the incident from a park in Piedras Negras, Mexico, asked people in the U.S. to call 911 for help, as emergency calls from Mexico usually do not connect with US emergency services.

Josie Rodrigues, who witnessed the incident, according to Human Rights Watch, said: “I saw a national guardsman in the boat train his gun on the man, and then he pepperballed him,” she said.

“He shot him four or five times. I saw the puffs of smoke, and the man went down, and he didn’t get up again. It looked to me like they were aiming at the person, not around him or at his feet. It was disturbing.”

On August 5, a group of migrants, including children, reported that projectiles were fired at them, resulting in burning sensations in their eyes.

Newsweek has contacted the Texas National Guard and the office of Governor Greg Abbott for comment.

Responding to tactics used by Texas officials, Democratic State Senator Royce West hit out at “cruel” methods used to deter migrants from entering the state.

West told Newsweek: “This is a human rights issue, plain and simple. State dollars cannot fund this type of conduct. I will not, and hopefully, my colleagues won’t sit idly by while state taxpayer dollars fund cruelty and human rights abuses.

“We all know that the flow of migrants into the U.S. through Texas and other states is a problem that has lasted through both Democrat and Republican administrations and will require comprehensive immigration reform to be approved by Congress. I do, however, also believe that Texas cannot remain silent and should have a role in addressing immigration issues along our southern border.

“Of course, the first bipartisan immigration bill that Congress has agreed on in decades was derailed for political reasons by Donald Trump a few months ago.

A Texas Military Department official told USA Today that Texas troops have been trained to deploy pepper balls.

Texas Military Department adjunct general, Thomas Suelzer, told the Texas Senate Border Security Committee on June 11 that “force may be used for self-defense or the defense of others but must be the minimum level prescribed by the situation and proportional to the situation.”

He said Texas Military Department soldiers are trained not to fire directly at people. “We specifically train them; do not shoot directly at the individual.”

The National Guard’s presence at the border is part of Operation Lone Star, Texas’ controversial border policing initiative.

Operation Lone Star is a Texas state initiative that began in 2021 and aimed at addressing issues related to illegal immigration and border security.

It involves deploying state resources, including the National Guard and law enforcement, to the Texas-Mexico border.

The operation focuses on enhancing surveillance, detaining individuals suspected of illegal crossings, and supporting federal immigration efforts.

The initiative has drawn both support and criticism, with proponents highlighting the need for security and opponents raising concerns about its impact on communities and resources.

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