Border Patrol agents assaulted near Calexico

Two Border Patrol agents from the El Centro Sector were assaulted by illegal aliens near downtown Calexico early Friday morning.

According to Agent Keith A. Croxton, of the El Centro Sector Public Affairs Office, at approximately 2:30 a.m., agents were attempting to rescue three illegal aliens from the All American Canal, which is located approximately three miles west of the U.S. Port of Entry at Calexico, Calif., West, when the assaults occurred.

“That area is one of our most dangerous areas when it comes to assaults on agents,” Croxton said. “They get rocked there quite frequently.”

Croxton said the agents arrested one of the illegal aliens, who had climbed out of the canal, but the other two illegal aliens remained in the water trying to avoid arrest.

As agents attempted to get the two other illegal aliens out of the water, one of them began throwing rocks at the agents, striking them both. One agent was struck in the face with a mud rock, and the second agent was hit on the chest and hand.

In addition to the assault on the two agents, Croxton said, several individuals south of the U.S./Mexico International Boundary fence were throwing rocks and shooting pellet guns at the agents. Croxton said agents assigned to the El Centro Sector Border Patrol's Search, Trauma and Rescue Unit (BORSTAR) responded and were able to extract the two illegal aliens from the water.

One of the three illegal aliens will be held pending prosecution on assault and alien smuggling charges.

“While it doesn't sound like it is as dangerous as it is, but it can be fatal,” Croxton said. “Some of our agents have suffered some very serious injuries from rocking.”

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.