U.S. fires tear gas across Mexican border to thwart migrants, including children
/ CBS/AP
Tijuana, Mexico — U.S. authorities fired tear gas into Mexico during the first hours of the new year to repel about 150 migrants who tried to breach the border fence in Tijuana. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement later Tuesday that the gas was used to target rock throwers apart from the migrants who were trying to cross.
"No agents witnessed any of the migrants at the fence line, including children, experiencing effects of the chemical agents, which were targeted at the rock throwers further away," the statement said.
An Associated Press photographer saw at least three volleys of gas launched onto the Mexican side of the border near Tijuana's beach that affected the migrants, including women and children, as well as journalists. The AP saw rocks thrown only after U.S. agents fired the tear gas.
The agency said agents saw "toddler sized children" being passed over concertina wire with difficulty. It said its agents could not assist the children because of the rocks being thrown. Agents responded with smoke, pepper spray and tear gas, it said. The AP journalist also saw plastic pellets fired by U.S. agents.
"Agents observed several individuals throwing rocks who appeared to have prepared themselves for the assault by applying lotion to their faces to counter the effects of chemical munitions," Rodney Scott, chief patrol agent of the U.S. Border Patrol's San Diego sector, said in a statement posted on Instagram. "Several arrests were made, all individuals from central America. No injuries were sustained by either the agents or individuals arrested."
The agency said 25 migrants were detained while others crawled back into Mexico through a hole under the fence.
Customs and Border Protection said that under its use of force policy the incident would be reviewed by its Office of Professional Responsibility.
Migrants who spoke with AP said they arrived in Tijuana last month with the caravan from Honduras.
The caravan, which left Honduras in mid-October, grew to more than 6,000 members during its month-and-a-half trek north. It has been a constant target of President Donald Trump, who referred to it frequently in the run-up to U.S. mid-term elections in November.
Many of the migrants are waiting in Tijuana for a chance to apply for asylum in the U.S., but there was a backlog before the caravan's arrival and the wait is expected to be many months. Others have found jobs in Mexico and tried to settle there.
In a previous incident, U.S. agents launched tear gas across the border after some migrants tried to breach the border following a peaceful march in Tijuana on Nov. 26. Hundreds of migrants who were downwind of the gas were affected.
Mr. Trump is currently locked in a fight with congressional Democrats over funding for the border wall that he wants to build. The stalemate has led to a partial government shutdown.
Mr. Trump invited congressional leaders of both parties to the White House on Wednesday for a "briefing" on border security, according to a congressional source.
Last week, Mr. Trump threatened to close the southern border "entirely" if he does not get the funding he needs for his border wall, saying that it would be a "profit-making operation" to do so.
First published on January 2, 2019
© 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
U.S. fires tear gas across border to stop migrants, including children
Customs and Border Protection says the gas was used to target rock throwers apart from the migrants who were trying to cross
updated 14M ago
Intelligence Matters: A CBS News original national security podcast
"Intelligence Matters" is a weekly podcast about national security and policy hosted by CBS News senior national security contributor Michael Morell
updated 43M ago
Transcript: Lisa Monaco with Michael Morell on "Intelligence Matters"
Former White House counterterrorism chief Lisa Monaco talks with Morell about terror threat that's "getting worse"
updated 51M ago
Terror threat is "getting worse" says Lisa Monaco
On the "Intelligence Matters" podcast this week, former White House counterterrorism chief Lisa Monaco warns risks of radicalization for potential domestic terrorists may be increasing
updated 41M ago
Haitian girl, suspected migrant smuggler missing off Florida coast
9-year-old was among 11 people on an inflatable boat that capsized about 50 miles from the coast during an apparent smuggling effort
2H ago
Intelligence Matters: A CBS News original national security podcast
"Intelligence Matters" is a weekly podcast about national security and policy hosted by CBS News senior national security contributor Michael Morell
updated 43M ago
Transcript: Lisa Monaco with Michael Morell on "Intelligence Matters"
Former White House counterterrorism chief Lisa Monaco talks with Morell about terror threat that's "getting worse"
updated 51M ago
Terror threat is "getting worse" says Lisa Monaco
On the "Intelligence Matters" podcast this week, former White House counterterrorism chief Lisa Monaco warns risks of radicalization for potential domestic terrorists may be increasing
updated 41M ago
Mitt Romney slams Trump days before being sworn into Senate
Although Romney is critical of Mr. Trump in the editorial, he also writes that he will follow the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
6H ago
Trump invites congressional leaders to White House
Democratic congressional aides expressed skepticism about the briefing, saying the agenda for the session is unclear
15H ago
U.S. fires tear gas across border to stop migrants, including children
Customs and Border Protection says the gas was used to target rock throwers apart from the migrants who were trying to cross
updated 14M ago
Chinese leader vows to stop "any sort of Taiwan independence"
But Taiwan's president rejects China's insistence on "one country, two systems" unification
1H ago
Netflix nixes U.S. satire in Saudi Arabia "to comply with local law"
Streaming giant takes heat for removal of "Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj" episode in which comedian lashes crown prince over journalist's murder
3H ago
Brazil's new far-right president promises sweeping changes
"Congratulations to President @jairbolsonaro who just made a great inauguration speech," Mr. Trump tweeted. "The U.S.A. is with you!"
12H ago
Jimmy Osmond suffers stroke after U.K. performance
Osmond was playing Captain Hook in a performance of Peter Pan
18H ago
Netflix nixes U.S. satire in Saudi Arabia "to comply with local law"
Streaming giant takes heat for removal of "Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj" episode in which comedian lashes crown prince over journalist's murder
3H ago
Madonna gives surprise New Year's Eve concert at historic Stonewall Inn
Madonna performed with "Can't Help Falling in Love" and "Like a Prayer" with her son, David Banda, playing guitar
12H ago
Jimmy Osmond suffers stroke after U.K. performance
Osmond was playing Captain Hook in a performance of Peter Pan
18H ago
"Nervous" Roger Federer faces Serena Williams for 1st time
"People talk about her serve so much and I see why it is such a wonderful serve because you just can't read it," Federer said
20H ago
Jon Batiste: "You can't sit on the sidelines"
The "Late Show" band leader says his response to the current times is not anger or disappointment, but to find true joy in music
23H ago
NASA spacecraft survives historic trip to world 4 billion miles away
New Horizons zooms past the celestial object known as Ultima Thule 3 ½ years after its spectacular brush with Pluto
17H ago
Report: China completes antenna 5 times the size of NYC
The Wireless Electromagnetic Method project was built on a site nearly five times the size of New York City
Dec 31, 2018
Retail revolution brings robot restaurants, car vending machines to China
Companies are re-engineering their businesses to cater to consumers who rely on smartphones for pretty much everything
Dec 31, 2018
New Horizons space probe closes in for historic encounter
NASA's New Horizons probe is racing toward the most distant space object ever explored, 4.1 billion miles from Earth
Dec 31, 2018
New augmented reality technology could help firefighters save lives
Operating in pitch-black, smoke-filled rooms may become less dangerous with the help of special cameras and computer programs built into the C-Thru firefighter's mask
Dec 31, 2018
Pets burned in California's Camp Fire get relief with fish-skin treatments
The skin has been used to treat bears and mountain lions in the past
11H ago
Top health stories to watch for in 2019
From a mysterious polio-like illness affecting kids to 3D-printing human organs, here are some medical stories to keep an eye on
19H ago
5 popular hangover cures, reviewed by experts
From black coffee to a hair of the dog – here's the science behind popular hangover remedies
Jan 1
Judge lets Obamacare stand during appeal process
Judge Reed O'Connor said he stands by his conclusion that the law is invalidated by congressional repeal of its fines on people who remain uninsured
Dec 30, 2018
Doctor possibly exposed to Ebola brought to U.S. for treatment
The doctor had been providing medical assistance in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where over 300 people have died in the latest Ebola outbreak
Dec 29, 2018
Stocks end the year down in worst decline since 2008
Investors endured the worst year for stocks since the recession — here's what experts say is in store for 2019
Dec 31, 2018
Opportunity in America, 10 years after the financial crisis
This week's "Where Did You Get This Number?" podcast explores the impact of the financial crisis on how people deal with money, plus opportunity in the digital economy and income in America
Dec 31, 2018
Stocks climb amid renewed hopes for U.S.-China trade deal
Despite President Trump's optimism over trade dispute, stocks are limping into 2019 amid growth fears
Dec 31, 2018
5 New Year’s resolutions for working boomers
Here are critical steps that will improve your retirement prospects and — best part — can be easy to achieve
Dec 31, 2018
Retail revolution brings robot restaurants, car vending machines to China
Companies are re-engineering their businesses to cater to consumers who rely on smartphones for pretty much everything
Dec 31, 2018
"He fired at us for no reason": Mother of slain 7-year-old recalls shooting
Jazmine Barnes was killed after a gunman in a pickup truck pulled up next to the car she was in and started shooting
11H ago
Kids in 2 states wounded by possible New Year's "celebratory" gunfire
A nine-year-old boy in Georgia and a six-year-old girl in California were both wounded by stray bullets overnight
16H ago
Mother killed over $35 manicure at Las Vegas nail salon
Las Vegas police search for a woman accused of using a stolen car to run over and kill a nail salon worker after failing to pay for a $35 manicure
22H ago
Elizabeth Smart responds to news her kidnapper lives near school
Wanda Barzee, who helped kidnap Smart, is listed in sex-offender registry as living near Parkview Elementary School in Utah
22H ago
Search for gunman who killed 7-year-old girl riding in car with family
Jazmine Barnes was killed when a man in a red pickup truck pulled up next to her family's car and opened fire Sunday
Dec 31, 2018