A Laredo man is speaking out against the Laredo sector Border Patrol tonight, saying agents repeatedly violate his rights.
He says after several years of complaining Border Patrol supervisors continue sweeping the issue under the rug.
He says he spent twenty years in the military all to be harassed by Border Patrol agents who seem to be taking advantage of their authority.
Now the concerned resident says either the U.S. is becoming a communist nation or people along the border are simply considered second-class citizens.
Carlos Gonzalez says getting home to his ranch off highway 83 just north of Laredo means having to battle border patrol agents.
“It's just harassment in its purest form out there.”
He says he's been tailgated and followed onto his property for no apparent reason, not once but twice this week.
“This is the second time in four days, four days apart I’ve had these incidents." He says this adds to a list of other instances over the past few months.
On Monday night he was even maced, after asking an agent to leave his property.
And he says agents are doing other things that may lead to someone's death.
Gonzalez says at night this highway is pitch black unless there’s afull moon or Border Patrol agents are waiting along the sides.
“They’ll all of a sudden hit you with their bright lights from the side.”
He says Border Patrol agents will park along the side with all lights off and shoot a spotlight at the driver as they pass by.
“You have the tendency to jerk your wheel because you don’t know what’s coming out at you.
“They’re going to kill somebody. They’re going to kill an inexperienced driver. They’re going to run one of us off the road.”
Border Patrol agents were not able to comment on the specific incidents but say they are well trained to handle all situations.
“When an agent encounters what he sees as a threat, he will use his OC spray or baton to effectively mitigate the situation using the least force necessary,” says Jason Darling of Border Patrol.
Meanwhile Gonzalez says he just wants someone to listen.
“They’re just trying to sweep this under the rug and we can't have it.”
“They’re going to kill somebody and I don’t want it to be me.”
Gonzalez says Border Patrol agents did offer medical help after he was maced.
Still he hopes others who go through similar incidents will speak out and help stop what he believes is flat out harassment.