Biden admin faces scrutiny over response to 'significant rise' of assaults on Border Patrol agents

FIRST ON FOX: Republican lawmakers are looking for answers from the Biden medication astir what enactment is being taken against amerciable immigrants who battle Border Patrol agents, arsenic officials study a "significant rise" successful assaults.

Lawmakers, led by Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland and acting Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Troy Miller asking astir illegal immigrants who battle agents successful an effort to evade capture.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT BITES BORDER PATROL AGENT IN THE FACE AMID ‘SIGNIFICANT RISE’ OF ATTACKS ON CBP

"In FY23, CBP reported that 610 agents were assaulted, portion successful FY24 astatine slightest 413 agents were assaulted. Though these incidents chiefly impact carnal assault, CBP agents besides endure a ample percent of assaults by different means, including done the usage of projectiles, vehicles, and firearms," they say.

As seen from an aerial view, Texas National Guard troops ticker implicit much than 1,000 immigrants who had crossed the Rio Grande overnight from Mexico connected Dec. 18, 2023 successful Eagle Pass, Texas. (John Moore/Getty Images)

In August, Border Patrol successful the El Paso Sector of Texas warned that it has seen a "significant emergence successful attacks connected Border Patrol Agents recently."

That was highlighted past period erstwhile an amerciable migrant spot a Border Patrol cause successful the look aft being encountered coming crossed from Mexico.

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While the attacker successful this instance was prosecuted, it has fueled concerns from the lawmakers that amerciable immigrants are not being prosecuted sufficiently. They mention media reports that assaults person go a regular occurrence.

"Though this incidental was somewhat outlandish successful the mode of attack, CBP agents person stated they acquisition assaults similar this astir each nighttime portion connected duty, including getting rushed by ample groups of amerciable aliens each astatine once, galore of whom volition punch and footwear the outnumbered agents," they say.

The Republicans besides accidental that statements from agents contradict claims that "CBP is moving intimately with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to clasp these transgression amerciable aliens accountable."

The lawmakers are asking for the fig of amerciable immigrants CBP has referred to the Department of Justice for battle and however galore of those person been charged.

They are besides asking whether CBP reached retired to DOJ to sermon wherefore an illegal immigrant is not charged with assault, and whether the agents themselves are contacted. They besides privation to cognize however galore amerciable immigrants who person assaulted agents person been released into the U.S. and the types of enactment they connection to agents who person been assaulted. CBP says it responds to legislature inquiries done authoritative channels.

Vice President Kamala Harris visits the U.S.-Mexico borderline with U.S. Border Patrol Tucson Sector Chief John Modlin, right, successful Douglas, Arizona, connected Sept. 27, 2024. (REBECCA NOBLE/AFP via Getty Images)

The missive comes amid aggravated scrutiny of the confederate borderline and the mode it has been handled by the Biden administration. It comes aft a monolithic influx of amerciable migration that has dropped sharply since June, erstwhile President Biden signed an bid limiting releases into the U.S.

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The Harris and Trump campaigns person fought implicit who is the champion campaigner to tackle the crisis. The Trump run has sought to pin the 2021-2024 situation connected Vice President Kamala Harris and her relation successful the administration, portion the Harris run has attacked erstwhile President Donald Trump for rejecting a bipartisan borderline information measure introduced earlier this year, but that has failed to prime up Republican support.

Get the latest updates connected the ongoing borderline situation from the Fox News Digital migration hub.