Border Patrol sees spike in assaults against agents

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX) — Border Patrol agents continue to deal with conflict at the border, but data shows they are also facing aggression while on duty.

According to information onCBP’s website, 27 agents in the El Paso Sector have been assaulted since the beginning of the 2023 fiscal year. During this same time frame in the 2022 fiscal year, there were 15 agents who had been assaulted.

The fiscal year began Oct. 2022 and ends Sept. 30, 2023.

The different types of assaults to agents that are listed on the website include:

• Physical assault
• Rocks or other thrown projectile
• Vehicle or vessel
• Firearm
• Knife or other edged weapon

Of those different types, data shows most of the incidents involve physical assaults or being hit by thrown rocks and other objects.

The El Paso sector has encountered over 224,000 migrants since the beginning of the fiscal year, a 156% increase in comparison to this same time frame the previous year.

U.S. Border Patrol in El Paso Sector continues to see acts of violence against Agents," a spokesperson said in a statement. "Based on CBP data, since the beginning of the fiscal year 2023, 27 agents have been assaulted during 24 different incidents. In addition, during fiscal year 2022 The El Paso Sector recorded 48 incidents involving 56 agents."

Since March 1, the El Paso sector shows a daily average 1,130 migrant encounters.

On Tuesday, the FBI said they arrested two Venezuelan nationals for assaulting a Border Patrol agent in El Paso. Acting Chief Patrol Agent Peter Jaquez released the following statement following the assault.

I condemn this violent behavior as such actions pose a risk to our border security mission and most importantly to the agents of the El Paso Sector, who are fully committed to their duties of safeguarding our nation’s borders.”

Jaquez added that the agency will continue to seek criminal prosecution against those who assault agents.