A Mexican migrant was recently sentenced to federal prison for violently assaulting a Border Patrol agent from the Tucson sector. United States District Judge Scott H. Rash sentenced Adbiel Martinez-Barrera, 21, of Guerrero, Mexico to 13 months and one day in prison for the assault, along with illegally entering the country on the day of the incident.
John R. Modlin, Chief at U.S. Border Patrol, provided an overview of recent activities: "Week in Review... 18,900 Apprehensions 145 Federal Criminal Cases 15 Rescues 10 Human Smuggling Events 6 Narcotics Events 2 Firearms Seized A Mexican citizen was recently sentenced to prison for assaulting a Tucson Sector Agent near Douglas, AZ."
According to a news release from the United States Attorney’s Office District of Arizona, the assault occurred in May after a Border Patrol agent responded to a call from a camera operator who had spotted two illegal aliens, a male and a female, in Douglas. The agent discovered the individuals hiding in the brush and attempted to arrest the female when Martinez-Barrera intervened. The release states that Martinez-Barrera "who was bigger and heavier than the agent, mounted the agent from behind causing them both to fall to the ground."
The release further details that Martinez-Barrera placed his hand over the mouth and nose of the agent in an attempt to suffocate him. Eventually, Martinez-Barrera released his grip on the agent and fled into nearby terrain but was later apprehended by additional agents who arrived on scene. The investigation was conducted by Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol with Assistant U.S. Attorney Serra M. Tsethlikai of District of Arizona, Tucson leading prosecution efforts.
In October alone, data from Customs and Border Protection website reveals that Border Patrol arrested 188,778 individuals throughout the country with Tucson sector accounting for 55,224 apprehensions and Yuma sector accounting for 5,870 arrests.
