Investigation Appears To Clear Mexican Consular Officials of Wrongdoing in Immigrant Smuggling Incident

Earlier this month, Mexican and US officials were in a rush to explain what happened following a tragic crash in which two undocumented immigrants died after a high-speed chase by the US Border Patrol. Following the incident, many accused officials from the Mexican consulate in San Diego of impersonating INS personnel and attempting to help a number of those detained, including the alleged smuggler, escape. These allegations, officials from the hospital and the California Highway Patrol say, have no support.

While the FBI and the INS, which are also investigating the event, will not reveal anything about it, other information indicates that the Mexican consulate did nothing wrong. The US government has confirmed that it has issued INS identification documents to consular officers, refuting the idea that they were carrying fraudulent documents. A hospital spokesperson has confirmed speaking with someone from the Mexican consulate, but says that they made no effort to obtain the release of any of the injured migrants. The hospital says that those who left did so after they were treated for their injuries, and that they were not under arrest or in any form of custody when they left.

It appears that the tragedy was manipulated by a radio host and former Mayor of San Diego , Roger Hedgecock. On his radio program he accused Mexican consular officials of posing as INS agents and interfering with the investigation. Later, after a furor was created, a CHP officer at the scene said that no one tried to interfere.

Both the driver and another man have been charged with two counts of murder, as well as a number of other smuggling related charges.