Texas Man Sentenced for Assaulting Border Patrol Agent Amid Increased Immigration Crackdowns

Texas’s El Paso Three counts of assault on a federal officer resulted in a 46-month prison sentence for a Mexican national in an El Paso federal court.

In November 2023, Carlos Ernesto Guerrero-Gutierrez was being held in a group of 20 people at a processing facility in El Paso, according to court documents. After becoming unruly, Guerrero-Gutierrez was put in a different isolation pod, where he took down the frame and a wooden board that had nails on it. Guerrero-Gutierrez used the board with nails to injure two agents and bite one agent on the leg when U.S. Border Patrol agents arrived. Another agent bled from his hand after being stabbed in the thumb with a nail, and another agent was struck in the head, resulting in bleeding above the temple. After two taser deployment attempts, Guerrero-Gutierrez was finally restrained, cuffed, and subdued. On May 6, 2024, he entered a guilty plea to three counts of assault against a federal officer.

Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas stated, “Our Border Patrol partners risk their lives every day to protect the United States and the integrity of our border.” “We will vigorously prosecute violent individuals who assault those who tirelessly protect us and our communities because we take these violations seriously.”

“This conviction sends a strong message: anyone who tries to hurt a federal officer will be dealt with quickly and forcefully. Such attacks will not be accepted. “The law will hold those who commit such acts of violence fully accountable,” stated El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar. “We appreciate the justice system’s and our law enforcement partners’ unwavering support in making sure that those who endanger our agents’ safety are held accountable for their actions.”

El Paso FBI Special Agent in Charge John Morales stated, “The El Paso FBI stands firmly with our U.S. Border Patrol partners as well as with all law enforcement officers who work tirelessly, day in and day out, to protect our borders and our communities.” “Any attack on these courageous, committed men and women will not be accepted and will be looked into right away. This sentencing demonstrates our steadfast dedication to assisting and cooperating with law enforcement at all levels to maintain public safety, and this case serves as a sobering reminder of the risks they face in their efforts to protect our country.”

The case was looked into by USBP and FBI.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stanley Serwatka.