TUCSON – With violence reaching terrifying levels in Mexico, U.S. Border Patrol agents are facing increasing dangers. Just last week, two agents patrolling in Southern Arizona were assaulted in separate incidents within 24 hours.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), on Thursday evening, a Tucson Sector agent was assaulted by a 24-year-old Guatemalan national. The man, who had illegally entered the United States through the desert near Lukeville, grew combative during arrest and struck the agent before being taken into custody.
On Friday afternoon, a Tucson Sector agent was nearly struck by a 22-year-old Phoenix motorist, wanted for human smuggling. The smuggler was attempting to evade arrest near Whetstone, when he narrowly missed the federal agent when his car collided with the agent’s cruiser.
The Guatemalan national will face federal assault charges and immigration violations, according to CBP, while the Phoenix man is expected to be prosecuted under federal assault charges. He will face face charges for his role in a human smuggling attempt in Cochise County.