Texas National Guard members stationed at the southern border have reportedly shot pepper balls at migrants. The migrants claim to have been targeted by this action.
The pepper ball guns currently in use are classified as “non-lethal” and are designed to release a chemical that causes discomfort in people’s noses, eyes, and throats. Although the state prohibits shooting them directly at individuals, some migrants have reported being hit by the balls, resulting in bruises and welts. This information was shared with The Texas Tribune by some of the affected individuals.
According to Alan Lizarraga, the communications director for the Border Network for Human Rights, the treatment of migrants at the border is a violation of human and constitutional rights. Lizarraga stated in a NewsNation interview that the harsh enforcement and use of pepper balls not only goes against the values our country was built on by immigrants, but it also leaves a stain on those core values.
In response to the ongoing border crisis, Gov. Greg Abbott has stated that his administration will utilize every tool and strategy available as part of the state’s border initiative, Operation Lone Star.
According to the statement, Texas has allocated over $11 billion of taxpayer money towards securing the border under their historic border mission. To achieve this, they have deployed thousands of Texas National Guard soldiers and Department of Public Safety troopers, established a military base on the border, installed strategic barriers, and constructed their own border wall.
What are pepper balls?
The Texas Tribune reported that the National Guard in Texas uses pepper balls that closely resemble paintballs to control large crowds. These pepper balls are filled with oleoresin capsicum, a compound derived from peppers. The guns used to shoot these pepper balls are powered by a carbon dioxide cartridge and can hold up to 180 rounds.
In May, a disturbing incident occurred along the American-Mexican border. According to a news outlet, National Guard soldiers fired pepper balls towards a group of migrants who were sleeping on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande. One woman, who captured the incident on video, shared with The Texas Tribune the distressing scene of her coughing and her daughter being hit by one of the projectiles. In addition, a 46-year-old Colombian man revealed small bruises near his elbow and hand that were reportedly caused by the pepper balls. The incident raises important questions about the use of force and the treatment of migrants at the border.
According to the Texas Tribune, a previous commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated that the use of pepper balls can result in significant harm.
According to Gil Kerlikowske, the notion that non-lethal weapons are harmless should not be taken lightly. He emphasized that such weapons, including irritants, can pose significant danger to individuals. Therefore, it is important to recognize that non-lethal does not equate to harmless.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, exposure to the gas used in pepper balls can lead to a range of physical symptoms. Immediately after exposure, individuals may experience excessive tearing, blurred vision, and redness in their eyes, as well as a runny, burning, or swollen nose, and irritation in their mouth. They may also have difficulty swallowing and drooling, and feel tightness in their chest, a choking sensation, coughing, nausea, and vomiting.
According to immigration advocates, the use of pepper balls is perilous. However, border officials argue that their use of force is a response to the increased aggression they have witnessed from migrants, who are cutting the concertina wire the officials have put up in the region.
Operation Lone Star
In 2021, Abbott initiated Operation Lone Star with the objective of preventing unauthorized border crossings. To achieve this goal, he dispatched the Texas National Guard and DPS to the border.
Texas has invested $11 million in Operation Lone Star to install numerous concertina wire rolls along the Rio Grande, resulting in over 44,000 arrests and the relocation of migrants to “sanctuary cities” throughout the United States. To assist Texas in their endeavors, over 2,400 soldiers from at least 18 states have been sent to the state’s border.
Several GOP leaders have come out in support of Operation Lone Star, although some lawmakers have voiced their opposition, claiming that Abbott has exceeded his powers and that the government’s actions have been inhumane.
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