C.B.P. News Release

Violence Against Border Patrol Continues to Linger

Agent Assaulted by 4 Assailants in San Ysidro

(Monday, March 23, 2009)

San Ysidro, Calif. - Although the number of assaults against Border Patrol agents have declined during the first five months of fiscal year 2009, violence continues to remain an ever-present threat to the men and women who protect our borders on a daily basis.

On Friday afternoon, an agent patrolling the border in San Ysidro was brutally attacked by a group of four male assailants illegally entering the U.S. As the agent responded to the suspected illegal aliens at about 12:30 p.m., they ran towards Mexico to elude apprehension.

The agent was able to approach one of the suspects, while the other three returned to Mexico. The encounter between the agent and the suspect instantly became confrontational as the suspect struck the agent in the face with a closed fist. While the agent attempted to gain control of the combative assailant, the three suspects in Mexico began throwing rocks at the agent. Two additional agents soon arrived to the scene and successfully took the suspect into custody while retreating to a safe distance from the assailants in Mexico. Both the agent and the assailant did not sustain any significant injuries during this incident.

The 30-year-old assailant in custody is currently facing charges for assaulting a federal agent and reentering the U.S. as a prior deportee.

The attack took place on the border near Virginia Avenue, where the Tijuana River crosses into the U.S. from Mexico. Due to the lack of pedestrian barriers at the border in the Tijuana River, the area is frequented by smugglers and drug users, leading to numerous violent attacks against agents.

From October 1, 2008 to February 28, 2009, 80 assaults against Border Patrol agents have been reported in San Diego Sector. In fiscal year 2008, 190 assaults took place year-to-date and agents experienced a record total of 377 assaults.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Contacts For This News Release
San Diego Sector
CBP Public Affairs
Phone: (619) 216-4182 Ext: 114 or
(619) 652-9966 Ext: 192 (Spanish)

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