Gloria I. Chavez, chief patrol agent of the U.S. Border Patrol Rio Grande Valley sector, said a El Salvadorian male was convicted of assaulting a Border Patrol agent. In a Nov. 16 tweet, she revealed that the assault took place in June. This incident is part of an ongoing issue of violence against border patrol agents.
"A 20-year-old male from El Salvador was convicted for assaulting a McAllen Station Border Patrol Agent. The assault occurred in June as the agent attempted to make an arrest. Assaults against our agents will NOT be tolerated & we will seek prosecution against these individuals!" said Gloria I. Chavez.
The conviction comes on the heels of another serious crime that saw swift action from the Border Patrol. The arrest comes just three months removed from Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol agents arresting a homicide suspect attempting to flee to Mexico, according to a press release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Mexican national was encountered at the Brownsville, Texas bus station as a part of a local, state and federal interagency coordination with Fort Brown and Brownsville Stations. The suspect was identified by agents as a migrant who overstayed her visitor visa and was successfully taken into custody.
This recent arrest underscores the critical collaboration between border patrol agencies and other law enforcement bodies. According to the press release, agents are actively collaborating with other federal agencies and the Houston, Texas Police Department to have the suspect extradited to Harris County in connection to an on-going homicide investigation.
Gloria Chavez further emphasized her pride in her team's efficiency and determination in upholding public safety in her official statement. "Extremely proud of our Border Patrol Agents for their collaboration with our law enforcement partner agencies, their vigilance, and relentless pursuit, ensuring our community's safety by apprehending the wanted suspect. Their bravery and commitment are a testament to our Agency's excellence," said Chavez in the press release.
However, these incidents also underscore the extensive responsibilities of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the comprehensive management, control and protection of our nation’s borders, combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection at and between official ports of entry, according to the press release.
The statistics provided by the agency highlight a persistent issue that continues into 2024 fiscal year. For the agency’s 2023 fiscal year which ran from Oct. 1, 2022 until Sept. 30, they arrested 598 individuals nationwide who affiliated with gangs, 751 individuals with ties to gangs were apprehended in the 2022 fiscal year and so far for fiscal year 2024, 50 people with gang affiliations have been arrested by Border Patrol agents, according to their website on enforcement statistics.
