A border patrol agent was injured after a person threw a rock into his vehicle while he was patrolling in Calexico, California, according to the federal agency on June 24.
The agency did not provide any details as to the circumstances of the assault or whether they had apprehended the perpetrator.
This is not the first time agents from the federal agency has been assaulted while patrolling along the border.
Border patrol said the 33-year-old suspect from Mexico, Josue Gomez-Reyes, approached the female agent’s fully marked patrol vehicle. Gomez-Reyes threw a partial lawnmower blade into the vehicle, which landed on the driver side window. The blade broke through the window and hit the agent’s arm. The agent was injured by the blade and shattered glass.
Despite the injury, the agent immediately chased after the suspect and with the help with other agents, the suspect was arrested.
“It is unacceptable for our Border Patrol agents to come under such a violent attack, but I am extremely proud of the quick determination of our agent to give chase and arrest her attacker,” said Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez, according to the statement.
“Our agent was ambushed while faithfully carrying out her sworn duties as a law enforcement officer by a gang member with a lengthy criminal history here in the United States. Anytime a person chooses to attack a Border Patrol agent, they will know that they are going up against a highly trained professional and that once arrested they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” she added.
Gomez-Reyes was illegally present in the United States at the time of the incident.
“As agents attempted to apprehend the suspected illegal aliens, a man in the group became combative and struck an agent,” the statement said. “The agent was able to subdue the man and placed him under arrest after a brief struggle. The man was taken to a local hospital for minor injuries. The agent was not seriously injured and did not request medical attention.”
The agency said the suspect was previously arrested several times by immigration officials and was deported before in 2000.
They added that the 44-year-old has an extensive criminal history, which includes an aggravated felony conviction in 1998 on multiple counts of transporting and selling narcotics.
CBP has repeatedly warned that the influx of illegal immigrants from Central America in recent months has overwhelmed border patrol facilities and resources and created a humanitarian crisis.