Protesters threatened to Shut-Down US/Mexico Border

Por Brenda Colón el April 13, 2017

This week, threats by protesters to shut down US/Mexico ports of entry circled the internet and social media. More than 2,600 protesters signed up to join in on the protest which it described as a way of "giving Mexican authorities until 6/16/2014 to return St. Tahmooressi or we will shut down the border." The initiative was launched on June 5th, and promoted by various media outlets, and news outlets such as Fox News. Just four days prior to the threatened "shut down" date the event was cancelled, reportedly at the request of the Tahmooressi family out of concerns that it would jeopardize the legal process in Mexico. The event's Facebook page has now disappeared completely.

VIDEO : ¿Border shut down?

Meanwhile, the "Free USMC Sgt Tahmooressi from Mexican Jail" Facebook page, which is managed directly by the Tahmooressi family, announced the cancellation of the press conference that was to be held the next day, on June 12, with no explanation given. The site has not given additional case status information but continues to request that supporters reach out to US officials to intervene in the Mexican Judicial Process.

On May 28, 2014, Tahmooressi was scheduled to appear in court for an evidentiary hearing, and instead fired his attorney causing the court date to be continued to June 4, 2014. That continued hearing was also postponed and no additional hearing date has been announced. For this reason, the press conference was highly anticipated because it would have been an opportunity for the public and media to receive a status update on the case.

In the meantime, Andrew Tahmooressi has conducted numerous telephone interviews with talk shows to denounce supposed abuse by prison guards while in custody.

These claims have been categorically denied by Mexican Officials, who sustain that his human rights and legal rights have not been violated, and additionally indicate that Tahmooressi has received more than 50 visits from consular members, his attorneys, his mother, and a pastor. Reports indicate that his mother, Jill, is currently in Mexico meeting with his attorney.

In Mexico, authorities maintain that Tahmooressi committed a crime, and that no special privileges will be granted to him. His legal process has been ripe with inconsistencies. While Tahmooressi maintains that he entered Mexico by mistake it later came to be known that he had spent the day in Tijuana, and had visited the city numerous times prior to the incident. This information raised suspicion in Mexico and makes it harder to believe that he "accidently" drove into Mexico.

The White House has yet to release a formal response to the petition launched by Jill Tahmooressi, that reached the 100,000 signature threshold. While many US representatives and officials have commented on Tahmooressi's case, it appears as though top officials are reluctant to chime in on a concern that is clearly controversial and sensitive in terms of US-Mexico relations.

On a local level, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has announced new permanent signage for the last U.S. exit in San Ysidro, thus replacing the temporary digital road signs that were put in place weeks after Tahmooressi's arrest. No other signs in the area have been replaced or enhanced.