'Violent mob' repelled in attempt to storm U.S. border in San Diego

A “violent mob” of illegal immigrants tried to ring in the new year by rushing the border in California and Border Patrol agents fired tear gas at them to repel the incursion, Homeland Security officials said Tuesday.

About 150 people were involved in the attempt to climb over burrow under a section of border fence in San Diego on New Year’s Eve night. After they were blocked one group grew more combative, firing rocks over the border to try to hit agents.

The Border Patrol fired tear gas, smoke and pepper spray rounds at the group of rock-throwers, said Customs and Border Protection.

The migrants said they were part of the caravan of people from Central America who arrived at the border over the last couple of months, escalating what had already been a strained border security regime.

“Once again we have had a violent mob of migrants attempt to enter the United States illegally by attacking our agents with projectiles,” said Katie Waldman, a Homeland Security spokeswoman. “The agents involved should be applauded for handling the situation with no reported injuries to the attackers.”

In addition to rock-throwers, the migrants also began to try to push women and children from among their group forward onto the border boundary, U.S. officials said, forcing some juveniles to climb over razor wire that the American government has posted in recent weeks as a deterrent to unruly crowds itching to jump the border.

Ms. Waldman said the migrants appeared to be trying to stage a photo-op of their actions in front of “conveniently invited media.”

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