Assaults Against Border Patrol Agents Continue Record Pace

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Border Patrol has continued to experience an increase in assaults against its agents. Border-wide assaults continue on a record pace with 250 assaults occurring from Oct. 1 through Dec. 16 compared to 181 assaults for the same time period a year ago, and that means a 38 percent increase.

Assaults against agents are more frequently occurring from Mexico immediately south of the border where organized criminal gangs and elements have little to no fear of apprehension or arrest by Mexican authorities. Agents have experienced assaults by rocking, gunfire, Molotov cocktails, vehicular assaults, and physical assaults. Recently helicopters flying in support of Border Patrol Agents on the ground have received gunfire.

“The American public and the border community must understand that this situation is no longer about illegal immigration or narcotics trafficking”, stated David V. Aguilar, Chief of the United States Border Patrol. “It is about criminals and smuggling organizations fighting our agents with lethal force to take over a part of American territory so that they can conduct criminal activity.”

“Criminals are discovering they can no longer operate with impunity in certain areas and are systematically being prevented from using the border for their criminal activities,” Aguilar said. “Our message to the criminals and criminal organizations trying to exploit the border communities through violence is that this is unacceptable and violence against our officers will not be tolerated.”