A Border Patrol agent was shot at over the weekend while sitting in his car along the United States’ southern border with Mexico, reports the Los Angeles Times.
“The gunfire occurred about 2:15 a.m. a mile and a half west of the San Ysidro Port of Entry, according to William Rogers, supervisory Border Patrol agent with the San Diego Sector. At least two bullets struck the driver’s side of the vehicle, but the agent was not injured and immediately drove to a safer location,” writes the LA Times.
Federal authorities believe the gunfire originated across the border with Mexican authorities confirming they’ve detained at least two suspects near the scene of the shooting.
“Authorities said the gunfire appeared to have come from the Mexican side of the border. Mexican authorities responded and initially detained two people. One had a handgun, while the second person was released. Neither was identified,” adds the author.
Read the full story at the Los Angeles Times.
BORDER CHAOS: California BANS TROOPS from Helping Border Patrol Agents
The government of California officially rebuked the Trump administration’s decision to deploy the National Guard to the southern border Monday; saying federal plans had their troops working “too closely” with immigration enforcement.
According to the Associated Press, state officials notified federal authorities that deployed soldiers will be prohibited from tackling duties seen as cracking down on illegal immigration: including fixing border patrol vehicles, operating surveillance cameras, and monitoring radio transmissions.
Last week, Governor Jerry Brown confirmed that he was willing to deploy upwards of 400 troops to the United States’ border with Mexico, but added the service members would be prohibited from aiding federal agents in stemming the flow of people across the border.
“This will not be a mission to build a new wall,” Brown wrote. “It will not be a mission to round up women and children or detain people escaping violence and seeking a better life. And the California National Guard will not be enforcing federal immigration laws.”
BORDER CHAOS: National Guard Helps Border Patrol ARREST 1,600 More Migrants
Federal authorities and Border Patrol Agents have arrested an additional 1,600 illegal immigrants attempting to enter the United States since President Trump deployed the National Guard to the region just weeks ago.
According to new statistics released by the CBP and Pentagon officials, the troops were able to assist federal authorities in cracking down on illegal border crossings into the US; freeing up agents to focus on human and drug trafficking into the country.
“Those folks are giving us the additional situational awareness in the radio rooms … which are allowing the Border Patrol agents sitting in those areas to go into the field,” said one official.
“As a reminder, these guardsmen are not carrying out law enforcement duties,” he added.
President Trump made national headlines last month when he announced his decision to deploy the National Guard to the US-Mexico border; vowing to crackdown on illegal immigration until his signature border wall is permanently funded.