Public Safety

Activists Say Immigrant's Death Demonstrates Need For Immigration Reform

By Amy Isackson / Border Reporter

Published May 31, 2010 at 9:16 AM PDT

This story was published more than 14 years ago.

Activists Say Immigrant's Death Demonstrates Need For Immigration Reform

Immigrants rights activists say the story of a man who died after being tasered by border officials is another example of why the nation's immigration system must change.

Immigrants rights activists say the story of a man who died after being tasered by border officials is another example of why the nation's immigration system must change.

Forty-two-year-old Anastasio Hernandez and his brother crossed the border illegally Friday night and got caught.

Anastasio's family said he'd been deported a few days earlier and was desperate to get back to his wife and five children in Encanto. He's lived there since he crossed the border illegally to work 26 years ago.

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Federal border officials said Anastasio became out of control Friday as they processed him for deportation. Officials said they Tasered him.

Family members said Anastasio was brain dead. He died Monday night, before being removed from life support.

Christian Ramirez coordinates the American Friends Service Committee. He said U.S. immigration policies are largely to blame.

"The story of Anastasio is the story of many migrants who have been ripped apart from their families as the result of our failed immigration system. Tragically, this particular incident will end in death, " said Ramirez.

Mexican consular officials say Anastasio's brother is in Border Patrol custody.

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Public Safety Immigration Tijuana

Amy Isackson

Amy Isackson was the border reporter at KPBS from 2004 to 2011. She covered breaking news and feature stories on California-Mexico border issues and immigration, for local and national broadcast. Amy got her start in public radio by pitching a series of stories about rural New Zealand - horse dentistry and sheep sheering - to Radio New Zealand's "Country Life" program. She then worked with Peabody Award-winning radio producers Nikki Silva and Davia Nelson, to help create the Sonic Memorial, a series of stories on the World Trade Center before, during and after 9/11. Amy's work has been recognized with awards from the Associated Press Television-Radio Association of California and Nevada, the California Chicano News Media Association, and the San Diego Press Club. She won the Sol Price Prize for Responsible Journalism in 2009 from the Society of Professional Journalists for her story about high school students smuggling people and drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border. Prior to venturing into the wonderful world of public radio, Amy worked for Yahoo! Inc. for nearly five years as an editorial surfer, associate producer and broadcast communications manager. She majored in Latin American History at Williams College. She grew up in San Diego and made frequent trips south of the border.

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