Not all heroes wear capes and many give up their lives to protect American citizens with little recognition. This past Wednesday a border Patrol agent died in the line of duty while pursuing a group of illegal migrants.
“Acting Deputy Commissioner [Benjamine] Huffman, Chief [Raul] Ortiz, and I regret to inform you of the passing of a Border Patrol agent assigned to the McAllen Station this morning,” read an email from acting Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Troy Miller.
A U.S. Border Patrol agent was killed last night while tracking a group of illegal aliens near Mission, Texas.
Does Joe Biden still think there are more important things going on than visiting the southern border?
— Congressman Troy Nehls (@RepTroyNehls) December 7, 2022
“The agent was patrolling the international boundary at approximately 1 a.m. on an all-terrain vehicle and tracking a group of individuals who illegally crossed the border when he was involved in an accident near Mission, Texas,” he continued.
“He was found unresponsive by fellow agents who immediately initiated life-saving efforts and requested emergency medical services. The agent was taken to an area hospital by ambulance where he later passed away. Additional information will be shared when available,” he went on. The agent’s identity remains unknown at this time.
My condolences to the family & friends of Border Patrol Agent Raul Gonzalez. He was tragically killed in an ATV accident while protecting our borders. Many knew him as a great father & as a go getter at work. We are forever grateful for his service and sacrifice. #USBP #RGV #RIP pic.twitter.com/euSgBKkbqL
— Mayra Flores (@MayraFlores2022) December 7, 2022
“The death of an agent while performing their duties and securing our borders is a loss that is felt throughout our agency and our nation,” Miller concluded.
Since Biden has taken office America has seen an unprecedented surge in illegal migration, with roughly 2.4 million crossing the border in the 2022 fiscal year. Over 4 million migrants have crossed the border since President Joe Biden took office. The surge at the border includes a record number of drug and human trafficking operations.
Texas law enforcement assisted Border Patrol agents in seizing enough fentanyl to kill 5M people —the largest seizure of liquid fentanyl in HISTORY.
Our officers are on the frontline fighting this deadly drug.
Thank you for protecting our state.https://t.co/f8HQEdwRc1
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) December 5, 2022
The sheer numbers have overwhelmed Border authorities, who are unable to keep up with the rise in traffic. The Department of Homeland Security has attempted to redeploy air marshals to the southern border to assist. But politics have reached their ranks as the department faces resistance from the agency, with many vowing to refuse the order at the risk of termination.
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has borne the brunt of the criticism due to the government’s handling of immigration issues. While GOP Senators have recently expressed hesitance to impeach him over disagreements on policy. However, several lawmakers have demanded his resignation.