WASHINGTON
—
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is calling for a nationwide
boycott of Mexican products and travel until Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi is released
from a Mexican jail.
“This
combat Marine has been languishing away since he was arrested March 31 for
allegedly crossing the border accidentally with three personal firearms that
were legally registered in the States but not in Mexico,” said VFW National
Commander William A. Thien. “It was a mistake, but so is the Mexican
government’s reluctance to release him unharmed back to the U.S.”
As
America’s oldest and largest major combat veterans’ organization, the VFW wants
to apply economic pressure to the Mexican government because Tahmooressi’s
arrest and captivity is mirroring that of former Marine Jon Hammer, who was
arrested for carrying an antique shotgun across the border in August 2012,
despite having proper American paperwork. He wasn’t released until four months
later.
Thien
said the VFW tried the politically polite route by twice asking President Obama
to contact Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, but
a phone call specifically about the Marine sergeant never took place. Now that
Tahmooressi is approaching his third full month in jail, the VFW national
commander said it’s time to take the gloves off.
"This
is about politics, and if my government won’t do anything, then I guess we need
to let the power of the purse take over. No products, no travel, a total
boycott … then maybe a dialogue will start.”