The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) should be held responsible for utilizing tear gas on border with Mexico to stop illegal immigrants from entering the United States, the American Liberties Civil Union (ACLU) said in a statement on Wednesday.
WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 02nd January, 2019) The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) should be held responsible for utilizing tear gas on border with Mexico to stop illegal immigrants from entering the United States, the American Liberties Civil Union (ACLU) said in a statement on Wednesday."The use of tear gas against unarmed people seeking asylum - including children - is cruel and inhumane," the ACLU said via Twitter. "CBP must be held accountable."
On Tuesday, immigration border agents used tear gas and pepper spray to prevent some 150 illegal immigrants from climbing over the fence near San Diego, California. The CBP said its agents used chemical agents after the migrants threw rocks at them.
The ACLU said these actions violate international human rights and obligations of the United States has undertaken.
The incident happened amid a continuing debate over President Donald Trump's initiative to build a wall on the US border with Mexico. Trump has requested from Congress more than $5 billion to construct the borer wall, but Democratic lawmakers have opposed the US president's proposal.
Trump has widely criticized the US immigration system and pledged to stop the flow of illegal immigrants in the United States. The president has also warned to close the border for all migrants if the problem of illegal border crossing, which he says is is intertwined with drug and human trafficking, is not resolved.
