Enforcement Efforts on the Border See More Violence

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Last Friday, Jan. 14, a Mexican woman attempting to smuggle four illegal aliens into the U.S. sideswiped two parked border patrol vehicles, injuring an agent.

Officers working in the area of Kino Springs observed several individuals run out of the desert and enter two waiting vehicles. The cars, a bronze Nissan Sentra and a white Dodge Status, then sped away from the scene.

Both vehicles were pulled over on Kino Spring Boulevard. When agents pulled up beside the Stratus, the driver accelerated and “intentionally sideswiped both Border Patrol vehicles in an attempt to disable them,” said a recent border patrol press release.

One agent was injured when the Status struck his vehicle and pinned his leg between the door and the frame.

Shortly after, the Status traveled a short distance and came to a stop. Five individuals exited the Status and fled into the desert. All five individuals, one Mexican female and four Brazilians, were apprehended after a brief search of the area.

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“Since October 1, 2004, the Border Patrol has documented 64 assaults against agents within the Tucson Sector. Of these 64 assaults, six have come from shootings and 13 have been a results of utilizing vehicles,” said Andy Adame, border patrol spokesperson.

He added, “It is obvious that the violence associated with smugglers has evolved from rock throwing incidents to tactics intended to seriously maim or kill agents attempting to bring them to justice.”

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