Border Patrol agents monitoring a section of the Rio Grande Valley Sector were fired upon from across the U.S.-Mexico border on Wednesday,...
Border Patrol agents monitoring a section of the Rio Grande Valley Sector were fired upon from across the U.S.-Mexico border on Wednesday, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
What are the details?
In a news release, the immigration enforcement agency said the agents were responding to a report of suspected migrants crossing the border illegally near Fronton, Texas, Wednesday evening at approximately 6 p.m. when they were met with gunfire from Mexico.
"Responding agents reported shots fired from Mexico," CBP stated, adding that the "Texas Department of Public Safety, Starr County Sheriff’s Office, and additional agents responded to the location."
According to Fox News' Bill Melugin, the agents promptly returned fire after being shot at from across the border. Nobody on either side is believed to have been struck by the gunfire. He added the agents were reportedly members of the Special Operations Group, which is part of Border Patrol Tactical Operations.
Fox News reported the exchange of gunfire likely resulted from a shootout taking place on the Mexican side of the border between the Mexican military and members of a drug cartel.
During the alleged shootout, a man fled and attempted to cross into the U.S. through a nearby river. When a BOTRAC agent jumped into the water to retrieve the individual, he was fired upon, the outlet reported.
"The incident is being reviewed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility. More information will be shared as it becomes available," CBP said.
What else?
The incident comes as violence along the U.S.-Mexico border continues amid the Biden administration's ongoing migrant crisis, particularly in the Rio Grande Valley Sector.
Earlier this year, Border Patrol agents faced gunfire from Mexico while performing an arrest of an illegal crosser. In that incident, a Border Patrol vehicle was hit by three bullets, but no one was injured.
Also in January, Texas National Guard soldiers on the U.S. southern border were fired upon by suspected Mexican cartel members. And late last year, suspected cartel members wearing tac vests and wielding AK-47s reportedly taunted Texas National Guard troops near the Rio Grande Valley Sector.
According to Fox News, the area near Roma, Texas, where much of the violence has occurred, is viewed as cartel land. It is reportedly where the Gulf cartel and Cartel Del Noreste fight for control of the Mexican city located across from Roma, Ciudad Miguel Aleman.
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