see also: in December 2007 News Releases:   Fugitive with $1 Million Bail Apprehended by CBP   Canada, CBP Team to Arrest U.S. Citizen Wanted for Sex Offense Charges With Child   Calexico, Calif. East Port to Extend Hours New Year’s Eve   Quick Action by Border Patrol Agent Saves Life on Christmas Day   CBP Officers Seize Over Half a Million in Cocaine, Marijuana, and Arrest One at Laredo Port of Entry   CBP Detains Missing Wanted Juvenile at Del Rio Port of Entry   CBP in Laredo, Texas Detains ‘Unsolved Mysteries’ Suspect Wanted on Bank Robbery Charges ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Washington D.C. --- The Border Patrol has continued to experience an increase in assaults against its Border Patrol agents. Border-wide assaults continue on a record pace with 250 assaults occurring from October 1 through December 16 compared to 181 assaults for the same time period a year ago - a 38% increase. Assaults against agents are more frequently occurring from Mexico immediately south of the border where organized criminal gangs and elements have little to no fear of apprehension or arrest by Mexican authorities. Agents have experienced assaults by rocking, gunfire, Molotov cocktails, vehicular assaults, and physical assaults. Recently helicopters flying in support of Border Patrol agents on the ground have received gunfire.

“The American public and the border community must understand that this situation is no longer about illegal immigration or narcotics trafficking”, stated David V. Aguilar, Chief of the United States Border Patrol. “It is about criminals and smuggling organizations fighting our agents with lethal force to take over a part of American territory so that they can conduct criminal activity.”

“Criminals are discovering they can no longer operate with impunity in certain areas and are systematically being prevented from using the border for their criminal activities,” Chief Aguilar continued. “Our message to the criminals and criminal organizations trying to exploit the border communities through violence is that this is unacceptable and violence against our officers will not be tolerated. These criminal organizations are victimizing border communities. Citizens on both sides of the border stand to lose if these organizations are allowed to operate with impunity on our nation’s border. U.S. Border Patrol agents protect and defend America’s borders but they also protect our border communities from the criminal element’s attempts to turn communities into battlegrounds.”

While the Border Patrol has seen an increase in violence against it officers throughout the southwest border, the San Diego sector has seen the largest increase in assaults this year. San Diego has now become the most violent sector for the United States Border Patrol. This fiscal year through December 16, there have been 110 recorded assaults on San Diego Border Patrol agents. That is a 358% increase over last year when there were 24 assaults reported during the same time period.

Agents are most often attacked by smugglers and criminal elements in areas where drug and human trafficking organizations have been entrenched.

Nationally, there are approximately three agents assaulted on a daily basis. Today, the vast majority of assaults are occurring on the southern borders of California and Arizona.

On the southwest border, there were 384 total assaults recorded during fiscal year 2004. Over fiscal year 2005, there were 687 attacks. Nationally, during fiscal year 2006, there were 752 reported assaults compared to 987 assaults during fiscal year 2007.

In response, Border Patrol has implemented several measures to help combat the rising assaults against agents. Agents are equipped with less-lethal items such as collapsible steel batons, oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray, and pepper ball launching systems (PLS). This year, the Border Patrol implemented the use of the FN-303, a less-lethal projectile launcher, in select sectors. These items are not a substitute for firearms; they give agents more options to respond to an assault before escalating to the use of deadly force. Ultimately, the agent under assault will respond to an assault with the appropriate use of force as trained, equipped, and prepared.

Also available to agents are helmets, shields, and vehicles, commonly called “war wagons” retro-fitted with steel mesh over glass surfaces.

Border Patrol also is continuing its efforts to work with Mexican authorities in stemming violence along both sides of the border. Each time an assault occurs in the border environment, local Border Patrol authorities notify their counterparts in Mexico. Many times, though, there is little or no response.

Video is available on request. Please call the Office of Public Affairs at (202) 344-1500.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.