Two Venezuelans face federal assault charges following confrontation with Border Patrol agent

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The FBI arrested two men from Venezuela following Monday's confrontation with a U.S. Border Patrol agent in west El Paso.

Officials say 20-year-old Luiscar Godoy-Hernandez and 26-year-old Gergory Morillo-Quinto have been federally charged with assault on a federal officer.

Godoy-Hernandez is accused of kicking an agent in the chest and running away after the agent was apprehending a group of undocumented non-citizens, according to investigators.

Morillo-Quinto was part of a second group the Border Patrol agent was trying to apprehend. Investigators say Morillo-Quinto hit the agent in the head before a constable deputy and concerned citizen intervened to help secure Morillo-Quinto's custody.

"Our partners at USBP put their lives at risk each and every day while protecting our nation’s borders,” said FBI El Paso Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey R. Downey. “We are grateful this USBP Agent didn’t sustain serious injuries and was able to go home to his/her family today. Assaults on Border Patrol agents or any other federal agents/officers or task force officers will not be tolerated and will be addressed swiftly by our office so they can continue to carry out their sworn duty to protect our communities.”