The U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector said it has seen a “significant rise” in attacks on border agents by migrants and issued a warning on the legal consequences of assaulting a federal officer.
Sixty-six El Paso Sector Border Patrol agents have been assaulted in 2023-2024 fiscal year so far. The 2023-2024 fiscal year began on October 1, 2023, and ends September 30, 2024. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, 104 El Paso Sector agents were assaulted in 2022-2023 fiscal year.
“Assaulting federal agents is not just a crime; it is an affront to our principles of justice and the safety of our nation. The brave men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol and all our law enforcement partners that work alongside with us safeguarding our nation’s borders,” El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Anthony S. Good said in a statement.
“We will not tolerate any harm to the well-being of those dedicated to protecting others. Our law enforcement partners stand with us in bringing those responsible to justice.”
The El Paso Sector Border Patrol said it is working alongside the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring suspected attackers to justice.
Authorities blamed the rise in assaults on an “influx of migrants” unlawfully entering the U.S. from the southern border.
Texas faces the most significant obstacles in deterring unauthorized entry into the U.S. due to its extensive border with Mexico.
According to data from CBP, Texas experienced the highest number of crossings overall, as 1,399,790 migrants attempted to enter the U.S. from Mexico in 2022.
In June, figures show 84,000 migrants crossed the southern border without authorization.
Law enforcement officials said violent confrontations occur when migrants and smugglers attempt to evade border agents.
According to reports from the CBP, migrants allegedly threw rocks and glass bottles at agents when evading apprehension from authorities.
According to a press release issued by CBP, border agents at the Santa Teresa Station were assaulted by a migrant who allegedly attempted to bite officers and spit on them.
An agent assigned to the Santa Teresa Station was pulled off his all-terrain vehicle (ATV) by a migrant, who was prosecuted and subsequently deported.
A CBP agent was shot twice in the torso on a routine immigration stop within the Lordsburg area. The agent survived the shooting thanks to body armor. The assailant was sentenced to 19 years in prison for attempting to murder a U.S. Border Patrol agent.
The El Paso Sector Border Patrol said “it will bring the full force of the law” on migrants who assault agents.
Under U.S. federal law, it is a crime to assault or resist a federal officer while they are performing their official duties.
The penalty for assaulting a public servant is classified as a third-degree felony. This can result in a jail sentence of 2 to 10 years and a fine of up to $10,000.
Officers are releasing the information to spread awareness about the legal consequences of assaulting a federal agent.
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