Fox's first appearance: Republican lawmakers want answers from the Biden administration on what steps are being taken against illegal immigrants who assault Border Patrol agents, as authorities report a “significant increase” in assaults. I'm looking for it.
Lawmakers, led by Arizona Republican Rep. Andy Biggs, sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Acting Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Troy Miller asking about illegal immigrants who assault officers while trying to evade arrest. did.
Illegal immigrant bites Border Patrol agent in the face as attacks on CBP 'significantly increase'
“CBP reported that 610 employees were assaulted in FY23 and at least 413 employees were assaulted in FY24. Although these incidents primarily involved physical assault, CBP officers reported that They have also withstood assaults by other means, including the use of projectiles, “vehicles, and firearms,'' they say.
An aerial view of Texas National Guard soldiers watching over 1,000 migrants cross the Rio Grande from Mexico overnight in Eagle Pass, Texas, on December 18, 2023. (John Moore/Getty Images)
In August, the Border Patrol in El Paso, Texas, warned that it had “recently experienced a significant increase in attacks against Border Patrol agents.”
This was highlighted last month when an illegal immigrant encountered a Border Patrol agent from Mexico and bit him in the face.
Caught on camera: Migrant who breaches fence is arrested by federal authorities
The attacker was charged in the incident, but lawmakers are concerned that undocumented immigrants are not being adequately prosecuted. They cite media reports that say assaults are commonplace.
“While this incident was a somewhat unusual attack, CBP officers experience such assaults almost every night on the job, and large groups of illegal aliens are attacked en masse. “A large number of agents said they had experienced assaults, many of them punching, kicking, etc.,” they say.
Republicans also said the agents' statements contradict claims that “CBP is working closely with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to hold these criminal illegal aliens accountable.” There is.
Lawmakers are asking how many undocumented immigrants CBP has referred to the Justice Department on assault charges, and how many of them have been prosecuted.
They are also asking whether CBP has contacted the Department of Justice about why undocumented immigrants are not charged with assault, and whether it has contacted the agents themselves. They also want to know how many illegal immigrants who assaulted agents are being released into the United States and what support is provided to agents who have been assaulted. CBP says it will respond to Congressional questions through official channels.
Vice President Kamala Harris visits the U.S.-Mexico border with U.S. Border Patrol Tucson Division Chief John Modlin (right) on September 27, 2024 in Douglas, Arizona. (Rebecca Noble/AFP via Getty Images)
The letter comes amid intense scrutiny of the southern border and the Biden administration's border response. The move follows a sharp decline in the large influx of illegal immigrants since June, when President Biden signed an order restricting their release into the United States.
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The Harris and Trump campaigns have fought over which candidate is best suited to handle the crisis. The Trump campaign is trying to blame the 2021-2024 crisis on Vice President Kamala Harris and her role in the administration, and the Harris campaign is trying to blame Donald Trump for vetoing a bipartisan border security bill introduced earlier this year. The attack on former President Trump ended in failure. to garner Republican support.
Get the latest information on the ongoing border crisis from Fox News Digital's Immigration Hub.
