Frustrated Smugglers Resort to Violence Against Border Patrol

Friday, March 07, 2008

Calexico, Calif. – Frustrated criminals increasingly are using violence to intimidate U.S. Border Patrol enforcement efforts by brazenly attacking agents near Calexico, Calif.

Yesterday afternoon at approximately 1 p.m., Border Patrol agents from the El Centro station were working three miles west of the Calexico port of entry when a group of suspected illegal aliens attempted to raft across the All-American Canal. The group, while still in close proximity to the border and having witnessed the quick response by nearby agents, was able to return back to Mexico before being apprehended.

After having returned to Mexico with the group of illegal aliens, three masked assailants/smugglers then re-entered the United States and began aggressively throwing rocks and threatening agents with physical injury. The agents on scene had to deploy their non-lethal force pepper ball launcher systems and saturated the area to subdue the assailants’ hostile actions. they eventually retreated back to Mexico.

No injuries were reported regarding this incident.