By Steve Neavling
Border Patrol’s El Paso Sector is concerned about attacks on agents by migrants, prompting officials to warn of the legal consequences of assaulting a federal officer.
Since the 2023-24 fiscal year began on Oct. 1, 66 agents with the sector have been assaulted. That’s compared to 104 agents who were assaulted at the sector in the 2022-23 fiscal year.
The federal fiscal year ends on Sept. 30.
“Assaulting federal agents is not just a crime; it is an affront to our principles of justice and the safety of our nation,” El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Anthony S. Good said in a statement Friday.
“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.”
He added, “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 sector is working with the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office to “bring all aggressors to justice.”
Migrants often attack agents with rocks or glass bottles. In one instance, a person resisting arrest spit on and attempted to bite agents.
The assaults can be more serious. An agent was shot twice in the torso while conducting an immigration stop. The El Paso man was sentenced to 19 years in federal prison.
