Quote:I admittedly no very little about this case at all. I would like to know if an actual crime was committed. Anyone have any actual reporting done on this other than clear partisan rhetoric?
it's not that he committed a crime it's that he entered Mexico with what is "legal" firearms in the United States and reserved only for Mexican military in Mexico. I know plenty of guys that go shooting in the desert on the southern border (it's legal on the US side) it's an easy mistake to go to far into the desert and end up in Mexico.
The gripe is Mexico is fine with literally giving passes to Guatemalans as they cross through Mexico and illegally immigrate to America, but the instance an American wonders not even 10 miles into Mexico they arrest him. It's a double standard that shows their true hostility towards America. Make no mistake it's a hostile regime in Mexico,
Quote:it's not that he committed a crime it's that he entered Mexico with what is "legal" firearms in the United States and reserved only for Mexican military in Mexico. I know plenty of guys that go shooting in the desert on the southern border (it's legal on the US side) it's an easy mistake to go to far into the desert and end up in Mexico.
The gripe is Mexico is fine with literally giving passes to Guatemalans as they cross through Mexico and illegally immigrate to America, but the instance an American wonders not even 10 miles into Mexico they arrest him. It's a double standard that shows their true hostility towards America. Make no mistake it's a hostile regime in Mexico,
You say "It's not that he committed a crime..." and then you describe the crime he committed. What he did is a crime in Mexico. Whether Mexico gives free passes to Guatemalans is a different subject. He committed a crime. That's why he's in jail.
Imagine for a moment that Heroin was legal in Canada. You accidentally cross the border from Canada with Heroin and get caught. Would you say you should get out of jail because the US is bombing people in the Middle East? It's a separate issue.
The man got caught committing a crime in Mexico. There are hundreds of Americans in Mexican jails right now. Should they all get out because the Mexicans give free passes to the Guatemalans?
Quote:it's not that he committed a crime it's that he entered Mexico with what is "legal" firearms in the United States and reserved only for Mexican military in Mexico. I know plenty of guys that go shooting in the desert on the southern border (it's legal on the US side) it's an easy mistake to go to far into the desert and end up in Mexico.
The gripe is Mexico is fine with literally giving passes to Guatemalans as they cross through Mexico and illegally immigrate to America, but the instance an American wonders not even 10 miles into Mexico they arrest him. It's a double standard that shows their true hostility towards America. Make no mistake it's a hostile regime in Mexico,
Hmmmm.... I will look more into it on my own but I guess I see your point about the double standard. Typically I am on the, if it's a crime than it's a crime side but I suppose if it was clearly an accident then I would think differently since nobody was harmed. How long is he being held for?
Quote:Hmmmm.... I will look more into it on my own but I guess I see your point about the double standard. Typically I am on the, if it's a crime than it's a crime side but I suppose if it was clearly an accident then I would think differently since nobody was harmed. How long is he being held for?
I think part of what is being left out in this whole story is how exactly it happened. He had parked his car on the U.S. side of the border, and walked across into Tijuana for a while. When he came back to his car it was dark combined with the road signs in the area being in disrepair. He entered the interstate wrongly, and by the time he realized his mistake it was too late (impossible) to turn around since all lanes of travel are blocked by concrete barricades.
It's not like he was out in the desert and "made a wrong turn" and ended up in Mexico. It's not like he intended to enter Mexico with firearms in his possession. It was a mistake, one that he confessed to immediately.
Quote:I think part of what is being left out in this whole story is how exactly it happened. He had parked his car on the U.S. side of the border, and walked across into Tijuana for a while. When he came back to his car it was dark combined with the road signs in the area being in disrepair. He entered the interstate wrongly, and by the time he realized his mistake it was too late (impossible) to turn around since all lanes of travel are blocked by concrete barricades.
It's not like he was out in the desert and "made a wrong turn" and ended up in Mexico. It's not like he intended to enter Mexico with firearms in his possession. It was a mistake, one that he confessed to immediately.
Did he walk through a border crossing? That part confuses me. I have also not heard that bit at all until now.
Quote:Did he walk through a border crossing? That part confuses me. I have also not heard that bit at all until now.
From what I understand, he parked in a parking lot on the U.S. side of the boarder and walked across to Tijuana and spent some time there. He walked back across to the U.S. to his car which was in a parking lot not far from the border (I have done this many times).
When he got back to his car, he intended to go back to San Diego. The signs around the parking area and at the entrance to the interstate were in major disrepair, combined with the fact that it was dark. He entered the interstate via the wrong entrance which led him back towards the border.
At that close of a proximity to the border (where the interstate entrance is) it's nearly impossible to get to the one and only lane where you can make a U-turn and go back into the states, especially at night and if there happens to be heavy traffic.
Quote:From what I understand, he parked in a parking lot on the U.S. side of the boarder and walked across to Tijuana and spent some time there. He walked back across to the U.S. to his car which was in a parking lot not far from the border (I have done this many times).
When he got back to his car, he intended to go back to San Diego. The signs around the parking area and at the entrance to the interstate were in major disrepair, combined with the fact that it was dark. He entered the interstate via the wrong entrance which led him back towards the border.
At that close of a proximity to the border (where the interstate entrance is) it's nearly impossible to get to the one and only lane where you can make a U-turn and go back into the states, especially at night and if there happens to be heavy traffic.
He tried to turn around before the border gate, but he was waved forward by the border agent. When he got to the gate, he told the agent what had happened, and that he needed to turn around because it was never his intention to enter Mexico. He also told the agent that he had a couple of weapons in his vehicle. He was waived through the border to armed security who eventually took him into custody where he's now been for about 6 months.
Quote:Hmmmm.... I will look more into it on my own but I guess I see your point about the double standard. Typically I am on the, if it's a crime than it's a crime side but I suppose if it was clearly an accident then I would think differently since nobody was harmed. How long is he being held for?
This apparently happens all the time at the border with Mexican law enforcement and military. They cross the border armed pretty regularly. In most instances, they're simply allowed to return. Sometimes they're processed, then sent back to Mexico, but they're never detained.
There are also incidents where Mexican military are used to help cartels escort the drugs across the border. They're heavily armed, but even then, they're not detained. They're sent back.
Meanwhile, a guy who made a truly innocent mistake after a night of partying in Mexico is rotting away in a cell south of the border while our government refuses to lift a finger. The state of Florida and the attorney general here has done more to try to secure his release than the administration.
Quote:Maybe I'm missing something here. A guy drives across the border into Mexico with some guns, and gets arrested. Why would the US State Department get involved in that situation?
A phone call to the president of Mexico would probably spring this guy almost immediately. They're using him as a pawn, and our government is sitting on their collective hands. This is a US citizen being unjustly held in a foreign prison. This is the kind of situation in which the US State Department is supposed to get involved.
Quote:You're saying any American who commits a crime in Mexico and gets thrown in jail should be sprung by the State Department? On the same day? Regardless of the fact that he committed a crime?
Quote:http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/may/...ticle-copy
He drove across the border with loaded guns in his truck. That's the crime he has been charged with.
If you listen to the undisputed account of what happened, he had no intention of entering Mexico, and was attempting to turn around before the border gate. He was forced to enter Mexico by the border agent who was insisting he move forward and not try to cross traffic to turn around before leaving the US. It was an honest mistake that now has this guy in jail for 6 months. You're fine with that?
Quote:From what I understand, he parked in a parking lot on the U.S. side of the boarder and walked across to Tijuana and spent some time there. He walked back across to the U.S. to his car which was in a parking lot not far from the border (I have done this many times).
When he got back to his car, he intended to go back to San Diego. The signs around the parking area and at the entrance to the interstate were in major disrepair, combined with the fact that it was dark. He entered the interstate via the wrong entrance which led him back towards the border.
At that close of a proximity to the border (where the interstate entrance is) it's nearly impossible to get to the one and only lane where you can make a U-turn and go back into the states, especially at night and if there happens to be heavy traffic.
based on what is being said in here it seems like it's a reasonable mistake.
Quote:based on what is being said in here it seems like it's a reasonable mistake.
Not worthy of a six month and counting prison stay.
Quote:Not worthy of a six month and counting prison stay.
I'll agree with that there. I understand the need for laws to be followed and punishment handed out as necessary but yeah if it was obviously an accident he should have just been sent back home.
Quote:I'll agree with that there. I understand the need for laws to be followed and punishment handed out as necessary but yeah if it was obviously an accident he should have just been sent back home.
That's certainly how it's handled here.
Quote:A phone call to the president of Mexico would probably spring this guy almost immediately. They're using him as a pawn, and our government is sitting on their collective hands. This is a US citizen being unjustly held in a foreign prison. This is the kind of situation in which the US State Department is supposed to get involved.
The State Department has been involved. Maybe not enough, but it is disingenuous to say they've done nothing. The U.S. citizen also lied when he was arrested, and has made two attempts to escape. He's done little to help his own cause.
Still, I agree that he should be released.
Quote:<a class="bbc_url" href='http://www.latimes.com/local/abcarian/la-me-ra-tahmooressi-spin-machine-20140807-column.html#page=2'>The State Department has been involved.</a> Maybe not enough, but it is disingenuous to say they've done nothing. The U.S. citizen also lied when he was arrested, and has made two attempts to escape. He's done little to help his own cause.
Still, I agree that he should be released.
He supposedly attempted to escape because he was threatened. The fact that he was out into solitary afterward lends credence to that claim.
If he lied to police in Mexico, it could have been the result of just being scared witless upon being taken into custody.
In the end, there's no logical reason he would have been heading into Mexico armed. His story about getting lost is extremely plausible based on media accounts of the area and the path he took.
If the State Department has been monitoring it as closely as they claim, this issue would have been resolved months ago. I'm skeptical.
Quote:Palin had the presidential nomination?
She would have been Pres if McCain died of some health issue which seemed to be a consideration back then. Plus, her as a VP? Of course, Biden is no better in that department.
Quote:Palin had the presidential nomination?
No, was VP nom. With McCain's perceived health issues at the time I just didn't want her a fatal heart attack away from becoming Pres. She would have equally sucked as VP. Just like Biden does.
Quote:No, was VP nom. With McCain's perceived health issues at the time I just didn't want her a fatal heart attack away from becoming Pres. She would have equally sucked as VP. Just like Biden does.
Both would provide much needed comic relief.
Quote:Both would provide much needed comic relief.
For some reason Biden seems to think he has a chance at the Dem nomination in 2016. I for one, welcome his campaign. It's going to be full of comedic gold.