El Paso sees increase in attacks against Border Patrol agents

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector says they have seen a recent increase in attacks against Border Patrol agents.

The El Paso Sector has seen 66 assaults against agents this Fiscal Year 2024 as of August 9. Fiscal Year 2023 saw a total of 104 assaults on El Paso agents. Each fiscal year starts in October.

Border Patrol says the frequency in attacks has increased with the influx of migrants trying to cross illegally into the border.

ABC-7 spoke with El Paso Border Patrol, who told us that these assaults often happen when migrants or smugglers get desperate and confrontational with agents.

Agent Orlando Marrero-Rubio, spokesperson for Border Patrol El Paso Sector, told ABC-7 that many times migrants and smugglers will try to use anything from rocks to punches against agents.

Marrero-Rubio says their agents are trained on the use of force to prepare for situations like these.

“The mission on the use of force situation or event is to de-escalate the situation as safely as possible for us and for the migrant,” said Marrero-Rubio.

Border Patrol told us that anyone who assaults or resists arrest by a federal officer will be arrested and charged with federal law 18 U.S.C. 111. Consequences that could lead to one to up to twenty years in prison.

Border Patrol also says that the majority of the assaults are happening in the Santa Teresa, New Mexico, area.