Date: Fri, 21 May 1999 10:30:36 -0400 (EDT)
Message-Id: <199905211430.KAA06493@zocalo.ne.mediaone.net>
From: belmonte@mit.edu (Matthew Belmonte)
To: CapuanoHR8@aol.com (Mike Capuano)
Subject: oppose HR 628

Dear Representative Capuano:

Two years ago this week, United States marines on a drug interdiction patrol
in Redford, Texas shot and killed eighteen-year-old Esequiel Hernandez, who
was herding goats on land owned by his family.  The marines' military training
was utterly inappropriate for situations in which they were confronting
United States citizens on United States territory.  Now, Representative
Traficant of Ohio has introduced HR 628, a bill that would increase the role of
the military in border operations, and seed even more suspicion and mistrust
within our border communities.  The use of the military in long-term operations
on American territory is inappropriate and sets a poor precedent.  I urge you
to oppose HR 628.