U.S. Customs and Border Protection says people on the Mexico side of the Rio Grande threw rocks this week at U.S. border agents who were patrolling the river on a boat.
CBP said Weslaco Station Border Patrol agents were on the Rio Grande near Hidalgo, Texas, when they were attacked by rock chuckers in Mexico.
“The agents reported that three subjects on the Mexican side of the river began throwing rocks at them,” CBP said. “No force was used against the subjects, who eventually dispersed and departed the area.”
“The agents were unharmed in the incident and no damage to the boats was reported,” CBP added.
Attacks against U.S. border agents have been on the rise in the last few weeks. In late October, an agent was assaulted in Calexico, Calif., when he tried to apprehend a man who had just climbed over a section of border fence between the U.S. and Mexico.
And in late October, a border agent was injured when an illegal immigrant threw a block of concrete at him.
“We will not tolerate assaults on our agents by criminals, and will vigorously pursue assault on a federal officer prosecution against anyone who perpetrates such violence,” said Assistant Chief Patrol Agent David Kim on Oct. 31.
