A Department of Justice release reports that prosecutors have filed charges against several individuals for assaulting U.S. Border Patrol agents in separate incidents along the southern border, highlighting an ongoing concern for officer safety.
According to court documents, on August 20, 2023, a Border Patrol agent pursued a group of migrants near the U.S.-Mexico border. The agent located Juventino Darinel Reyes-Fuentes, 30, a Mexican national, and began to arrest him, but Juventinoresisted and attempted to reach for the agent’s weapon. The agent fired at Juventino, shooting his wallet and phone. Juventino’s brother, Jose Maria Reyes-Fuentes, 24, also a Mexican national, then approached and assaulted the agent. A struggle ensued as the brothers wrestled the firearm away from the agent. The brothers then stole the agent’s ATV and fled but were later apprehended by other agents.
Juventino and Jose both pled guilty in federal court to assault upon a federal officer involving physical contact and were each sentenced to 16 months in prison.