A U.S. Border Patrol agent was assaulted and bitten in a confrontation with a migrant near Mount Cristo Rey.
At a Glance
- A Border Patrol agent was assaulted and bitten by a migrant during an illegal border crossing attempt.
- The incident occurred at Mount Cristo Rey near Sunland Park, New Mexico.
- The agent sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at a local medical facility.
- The migrant involved was arrested, and three others were detained by Mexican authorities.
- This incident contributes to the 413 assaults on border agents reported this fiscal year.
Attack on Border Patrol Agent at Mount Cristo Rey
A Border Patrol agent was assaulted by a migrant during an attempted illegal border crossing at Mount Cristo Rey near Sunland Park, New Mexico. The incident occurred around 12:50 p.m. on September 19, 2024. The agent encountered a group of undocumented migrants, where one individual attacked and bit the agent. The agent sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a local medical facility for evaluation.
On September 19, 2024, at approximately 12:50 p.m., a U.S. Border Patrol Agent assigned to the Santa Teresa Station responded to a group of undocumented non-citizens that had crossed the border illegally in the Sunland Park, N.M. area near the Monument 2 border marker. While taking the undocumented non-citizens into custody, the agent was physically assaulted and bitten by one of the undocumented non-citizens.
The agent received non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local medical facility for evaluation. One subject has been arrested for assault and was taken to a local hospital for medical evaluation.
Details of the Incident
During the confrontation, the Border Patrol agent was punched in the face and bitten by the assailant. The migrant responsible was arrested for assault. Three other migrants, who were part of the same group, fled back into Mexico but were later detained by Mexican authorities. One migrant was brought back to U.S. Border Patrol for identification.
“Mexican police have three people in custody following an assault on a U.S. Border Patrol agent on Mount Cristo Rey on Thursday afternoon. The agent was punched in the face and bitten by an unidentified foreign national who was part of a group of four people the agent spotted coming over the mountain from Mexico.”
Rising Number of Assaults on Border Agents
The Sunland Park area is known for being a hectic corridor with frequent illegal border crossing attempts. Local dispatchers often handle emergency calls about migrants falling from the border wall. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data, there have been 413 assaults on border agents this fiscal year, highlighting the ongoing risks and challenges faced by those protecting our borders.
“One of the migrants allegedly attacked and bit the agent, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect accused of biting the Border Patrol agent was arrested for assault. The law enforcement officer was taken to a local medical facility for evaluation while the suspect was arrested for assault, the federal agency said. Three of the four migrants in the group who tried to enter through the corridor Thursday ran back into Mexico following the violent encounter and were taken into custody by Mexican authorities, the outlet reported.”
