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U.S. BORDER PATROL
Mistrial declared in deadly shooting Jury acquits agent of second-degree murder charge in killing of teenager By Anita Snow and Jacques Billeaud A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
PHOENIX — A mistrial was declared Monday in the case of a U.S. Border Patrol agent after an Arizona jury acquitted him of a second-degree murder charge in the killing of a teen from Mexico but deadlocked on lesser counts of manslaughter. The decision by U.S. District Judge Raner Collins means prosecutors could seek another trial for Agent Lonnie Swartz on the manslaughter charges in
the 2012 death of Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez, who was fatally shot as he threw rocks at authorities during a drug smuggling attempt. Prosecutors say they were evaluating whether to pursue a retrial. Jurors had deliberated about 18 hours over five days in what human rights attorneys say was the first prosecution of a Border Patrol agent in a fatal shooting across the border. Swartz fired 16 shots late on Oct. 10, 2012, through a 20-foot (6-meter) fence that sits on an embankment above Mexico’s Calle Internacional, a Nogales
street lined with homes and small businesses. Prosecutors acknowledged during the monthlong trial that Elena Rodriguez was lobbing rocks across the border during a drug smuggling attempt. But they say he did not deserve to die. Defense attorneys countered that Swartz was justified in using lethal force against rockthrowers and shot from the U.S. side of the border in selfdefense. Defense attorneys Sean Chapman and Jim Calle didn’t
SOUTH TEXAS
CHIP in force despite error
Mistrial continues on A11
Ron Medvescek/Arizona Daily Star / AP
This photo shows Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz, left, at the U.S. District Court building in downtown Tucson, Arizona. A mistrial was declared Monday in the case of Swartz after an Arizona jury acquitted him of a second-degree murder charge in the killing of a teen from Mexico but deadlocked on lesser counts of manslaughter.
CENTRAL AMERICAN CARAVAN
600 MIGRANTS ARE CLOSER TO THE BORDER
ZA PATA T I ME S/T HE T E XAS TRIBUNE
The Texas Border Coalition has urged South Texas border families who receive government subsidized health insurance under the CHIP program to continue to see their doctors for routine care, prescriptions and other medical needs. “Families should not be confused by headlines: the CHIP program is alive and well in the Hidalgo service area, which includes Maverick, Webb, McMullen, Duval, Zapata, Jim Hogg, Starr, Hidalgo, Willacy and Cameron counties,” said Dr. Hector Gonzalez, chairman of TBC’s health care committee and City of Laredo Health Department director. The Texas Heath and Human Services Commission recently discovered a scoring error in the agency’s procurement process that led to the termination of CHIP contracts with five Rio Grande Valley managed care organizations. In order to assure that children will not be affected, the current managed care providers, Molina and Superior, will continue to deliver health services to eligible children. Heather Griffith Peterson, chief operating officer for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, is resigning as the agency continues to get hit by auditors over mismanagement of state contracts. She stepped into the role in June 2016. Wednesday was her last day. The health commission has also gotten flack from Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s office over the contracting issues. Last CHIP continues on A11
Luis Gutierrez / AP
Central American migrants traveling with the annual migrant Stations of the Cross caravan march in favor of migrants' rights and against the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump in Hermosillo, Mexico on Monday. The mainly Central American migrants are demanding better treatment and many are planning to request asylum, either in the United States or Mexico.
Many plan to request asylum in U.S. or Mexico ASSOCIATED PRE SS
MEXICO CITY — The remnants of a caravan of Central American migrants protested in northern Mex-
ico on Monday, even as once again they drew angry tweets from U.S. President Donald Trump. The mainly Central American migrants are demand-
ing better treatment and many are planning to request asylum, either in the United States or Mexico. “We are asking the government and migration au-
thorities to respect the right to seek asylum,” said caravan organizer Irineo Mujica. “Those who request asylum shouldn’t be criminalized. It is a right ... families shouldn’t be separated or punished.” Migrants continues on A11