Customs and Border Patrol

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Customs and Border Patrol

U.S. Won't Charge Border Patrol Agent In Killing Of Mexican Teen

Ryan J. Reilly | April 27, 2012, 5:18PM

The Justice Department will not prosecute the border patrol agent who shot and killed 15-year-old Sergio Hernandez-Guereca on the Mexico border on June 7, 2010 after smugglers hurled rocks at him. DOJ said in a press release late Friday that there was "insufficient evidence" to prosecute the agent for either a homicide or a civil rights charge.

"This review took into account evidence indicating that the agent's actions constituted a reasonable use of force or would constitute an act of self defense in response to the threat created by a group of smugglers hurling rocks at the agent and his detainee," the press release said.

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Topics: Customs and Border Patrol, Mexico, Sergio Hernandez-Guereca

Drones

One Nation Under The Drone: The Rising Number Of UAVs In American Skies

Jillian Rayfield | December 22, 2011, 4:45AM

A secret air show in Houston. An unmanned blimp in Utah. A sovereign citizen arrested in North Dakota.

Each of these is just one small part of the bigger story of the proliferation of unmanned aircraft use within the U.S., and each is likely to become smaller still if the FAA goes through with plans to loosen regulations governing domestic use of drones.

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Topics: Customs and Border Patrol, Department of Homeland Security, Drones, Privacy, UAVs

Drones

ND Sheriff Used Predator Drone To Arrest 'Sovereign Citizens'

Jillian Rayfield | December 13, 2011, 11:59AM

MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft.

A family of "sovereign citizens" in North Dakota was arrested with the help of a predator drone, borrowed from border patrol agents by the local sheriff in an effort to avoid a standoff over some missing cows.

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Topics: Customs and Border Patrol, Drones, North Dakota, Sovereign Citizens

Drones

Border Patrol: This Is The First Mexican Drone Crash We've Had

Rachel Slajda | December 17, 2010, 2:51PM

A spokesman for U.S. Customs & Border Patrol, the agency which found a small Mexican drone after it crashed in an El Paso neighborhood, told CNN today that it's the first time a Mexican drone has crashed on U.S. soil.

Officials confirm the drone, which crashed in residential yard Tuesday, was an unmanned, radio-controlled craft called an Orbiter Mini UAV owned by the Mexican government. Border Patrol was the first to respond to the crash, and has since turned the investigation over the the National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates plane crashes.

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Topics: Customs and Border Patrol, Drones, Mexico, Military Contractors, Military Technology, National Transportation Safety Board, TPMTech, Technology

Mexico

Unmanned Mexican Drone Crashes Near El Paso, Texas

Eric Lach | December 16, 2010, 5:08PM

A remote-control drone operated by the Mexican government crashed in the United States near El Paso, Texas, this week, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency confirms to TPM.

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Topics: Customs and Border Patrol, Defense Contractors, Mexico, TPMTech, Technology, Texas, U.S. Military, UAVs

Neil Armstrong

Customs Officer Charged With Stealing Neil Armstrong's Signature

Rachel Slajda | July 23, 2010, 2:08PM

Neil Armstrong, Apollo 11 astronaut

In one small theft for man, a customs officer has been charged with stealing a customs form signed by astronaut Neil Armstrong and trying to sell it at auction.

The Customs and Border Patrol tech, 50-year-old Thomas Chapman, allegedly helped Armstrong with his bags when the astronaut went through customs at Boston's Logan Airport in March. He then took the declaration form, signed by Armstrong, and, instead of filing it, took it home.