UPDATE: This story has been updated to include comments from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the FBI
The FBI is investigating an incident captured in a viral video where Border Patrol agents appeared to physically take down an alleged smuggler in California, the Daily Caller News Foundation has learned.
The video showed an incident that happened Sunday, when Border Patrol agents were working to apprehend two illegal migrants, who swam around the border wall in Imperial Beach, California, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in a statement Tuesday. The migrants “actively resisted and assaulted the agents,” and the agents used “less-lethal devices.”
CBP earlier told the DCNF that it couldn’t comment on the incident due to an ongoing FBI investigation. The FBI San Diego Field Office confirmed the investigation to the DCNF.
“The FBI is aware of the situation involving two Customs and Border Patrol [sic] agents that occurred on Sunday, August 21, near Imperial Beach, California, and is investigating the assault on federal officers. We will review all available facts of the incident to determine what federal response is warranted. As this is an ongoing matter, we have no further comment,” the FBI office said.
Agents took one unaccompanied child from Mexico, 17, and one adult from Mexico, 20, into custody and transported them to processing, CBP said.
Rep. Mayra Flores first shared the video, which was originally posted to TikTok, on Twitter Monday. The Texas Republican said that the incident occurred in the San Diego border sector. (RELATED: Texas Attorney Arrested For Alleged Human Smuggling At The Border)
The footage appeared to show border agents attempting to fend off an alleged smuggler on the beach, one with a baton, followed by an agent physically knocking the individual down. Another alleged smuggler appeared to be pinned down by another agent in the background.
“The video I posted yesterday is just a small example of what our brave men and women of CBP deal with on a daily basis,” Flores told the DCNF.
“Left without any support by this Administration and thanks to their open border policies, disrespect and misconduct towards our law enforcement officials have reached alarming levels,” she added.
Border Patrol Agents assigned to San Diego Sector tackle and arrest suspected smugglers at the border.#HonorFirst #MeanGreen pic.twitter.com/UqVYBDIBB3
— Mayra Flores (@MayraFlores2022) August 22, 2022
Migrants who cross the border illegally often pay smugglers to get them across the border. Many of them are U.S. citizens trying to reap the large cash payments criminal organizations offer.
“We’re dealing with unprecedented numbers of human smuggling activity,” Ray Reed, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) assistant special agent in charge (ASAC) of the Douglas, Arizona, office previously told the DCNF.
Over 1,900,000 migrants have been encountered by CBP between October and July, according to agency statistics. San Diego sector authorities have seen over 145,000 migrants in fiscal year 2022, according to CBP.
The FBI didn’t respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.
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