American Marine Chained In Mexican Jail Is Unshackled But Remains Behind Bars (+video)

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In a small victory for a decorated U.S. Marine held on gun charges in a Mexican prison, authorities in the country have removed the four chains binding him to his cot amid growing pressure from American lawmakers, the Marine’s mother said.

Jill Tahmooressi’s son, Andrew, has been held inside La Mesa Prison in Tijuana since April 1, when he was arrested after unintentionally going into Mexico from California’s San Ysidro border crossing while carrying three, registered firearms. After an escape attempt and having his wounds treated at Tijuana General Hospital following a self-inflicted stabbing, he was placed in the jail infirmary with his arms and legs restrained.

Tahmooressi called his mother Friday to let her know that the shackles had been removed, but phoned her again on Monday to inform her that Mexican prison officials had once again restrained him by clamping a chain on one of his legs.

“Honestly, that’s a lot better than having all four of his limbs chained up,” an emotional Jill Tahmooressi told Fox News Latino. “He can at least stand up and exercise to get his muscle strength back.”

An active U.S. Marine reservist who served two combat tours in Afghanistan, including a 2010 stint in the violent Marjah district, Tahmooressi was moving to San Diego area with a Marine friend to be close to his treatment center for his post-traumatic stress disorder when he made a wrong turn into Mexico and ended up under arrest.