SUNLAND PARK, NM - A U.S. Border Patrol agent was assaulted and bitten by an immigrant who was part of a group that was attempting to illegally cross into the United States at the southern border.
According to the New York Post, the incident took place on Thursday, September 19th, around 12:50 p.m. when agents confronted the border-crossers at Mount Cristo Rey near Sunland Park. As the group was attempting to illegally cross the border, one of the immigrants allegedly attacked and bit the agent, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
The agent was taken to a local medical facility for evaluation and the suspect was arrested for assault. Reportedly, the Sunland Park area is often one of the more chaotic corridors along the U.S. southern border where immigrants try to illegally sneak into the country. Local dispatchers field frequent emergency calls when the immigrants fall from the border wall near the Monte Cristo Rey monument and stumble on the rocks below.
Three of the four immigrants in the group who tried to illegally enter through the corridor ran back into Mexico following the violent encounter and were subsequently taken into custody by Mexican authorities. One of the illegal immigrants was then brought to U.S. Border Patrol agents so he could be identified. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data shows that so far this year, 413 border agents have been assaulted. For fiscal year 2023, there were 610 assaults against agents or officersm and 716 in fiscal year 2022.
According to reports, a Border Report/KTSM camera crew witnessed the Border Patrol agents met with Chihuahua state police and a Mexican National Guard unit after the incident. The Chihuahua police had three people in custody inside a pickup truck and brought out one of the suspects for border agents to identify. It is unclear what charges the young men were detained for in Mexico.
Regarding the incident, the Border Patrol released the following statement: "A U.S. Border Patrol Agent assigned to the Santa Teresa Station responded to a group of undocumented non-citizens that had crossed the border illegally in the Sunland Park area near the Monument 2 border marker. While taking the undocumented non-citizens into custody, the agent was physically assaulted and bitten by one of the undocumented non-citizens. The agent received non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local medical facility for evaluation. One subject has been arrested for assault for assault and was taken to a local hospital for medical evaluation."
Other border sectors have seen a rise in attacks on Border Patrol agents. A press release from CBP back in August stated that the El Paso Sector saw a significant rise in attacks on agents. Since the beginning of fiscal year 2024, 66 El Paso Sector Border Patrol agents have been assaulted. During fiscal year 2023, 104 agents were assaulted.
At the time, El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Anthony S. Good said, "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. We will not tolerate any harm to the well-being of those dedicated to protecting others. Our law enforcement partners stand with is in bringing those responsible to justice."
The violent encounters occur when the immigrants and smugglers illegally trying to cross the border attempt to evade law enforcement. It is a federal crime to assault or resist arrest by a federal officer while they are performing their official duties. Further penalties are levied for the assault, kidnapping, and/or murder of a federal officer.
The use of hands, feet, fists, teeth, firearms, knives, vehicles, and rocks, along with other items used as weapons to purposely inflict harm on federal officers while performing their duties, and the severity of the injuries is reported and provided to the U.S. Attorney's Office for federal prosecution. Illegal immigrants often throw rocks and glass bottles at agents when trying to evade apprehension.
According to the New York Post, the incident took place on Thursday, September 19th, around 12:50 p.m. when agents confronted the border-crossers at Mount Cristo Rey near Sunland Park. As the group was attempting to illegally cross the border, one of the immigrants allegedly attacked and bit the agent, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
The agent was taken to a local medical facility for evaluation and the suspect was arrested for assault. Reportedly, the Sunland Park area is often one of the more chaotic corridors along the U.S. southern border where immigrants try to illegally sneak into the country. Local dispatchers field frequent emergency calls when the immigrants fall from the border wall near the Monte Cristo Rey monument and stumble on the rocks below.
Three of the four immigrants in the group who tried to illegally enter through the corridor ran back into Mexico following the violent encounter and were subsequently taken into custody by Mexican authorities. One of the illegal immigrants was then brought to U.S. Border Patrol agents so he could be identified. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data shows that so far this year, 413 border agents have been assaulted. For fiscal year 2023, there were 610 assaults against agents or officersm and 716 in fiscal year 2022.
According to reports, a Border Report/KTSM camera crew witnessed the Border Patrol agents met with Chihuahua state police and a Mexican National Guard unit after the incident. The Chihuahua police had three people in custody inside a pickup truck and brought out one of the suspects for border agents to identify. It is unclear what charges the young men were detained for in Mexico.
Regarding the incident, the Border Patrol released the following statement: "A U.S. Border Patrol Agent assigned to the Santa Teresa Station responded to a group of undocumented non-citizens that had crossed the border illegally in the Sunland Park area near the Monument 2 border marker. While taking the undocumented non-citizens into custody, the agent was physically assaulted and bitten by one of the undocumented non-citizens. The agent received non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local medical facility for evaluation. One subject has been arrested for assault for assault and was taken to a local hospital for medical evaluation."
Other border sectors have seen a rise in attacks on Border Patrol agents. A press release from CBP back in August stated that the El Paso Sector saw a significant rise in attacks on agents. Since the beginning of fiscal year 2024, 66 El Paso Sector Border Patrol agents have been assaulted. During fiscal year 2023, 104 agents were assaulted.
At the time, El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Anthony S. Good said, "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. We will not tolerate any harm to the well-being of those dedicated to protecting others. Our law enforcement partners stand with is in bringing those responsible to justice."
The violent encounters occur when the immigrants and smugglers illegally trying to cross the border attempt to evade law enforcement. It is a federal crime to assault or resist arrest by a federal officer while they are performing their official duties. Further penalties are levied for the assault, kidnapping, and/or murder of a federal officer.
The use of hands, feet, fists, teeth, firearms, knives, vehicles, and rocks, along with other items used as weapons to purposely inflict harm on federal officers while performing their duties, and the severity of the injuries is reported and provided to the U.S. Attorney's Office for federal prosecution. Illegal immigrants often throw rocks and glass bottles at agents when trying to evade apprehension.
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Comments
2024-09-22T06:53-0400 | Comment by: Paul
Don't they put down rabid dogs?