WPTZ 5
July 9, 2008

Protecting the U.S. border is a dangerous job and officials say it’s getting even more dangerous for Border Patrol agents.

Border Patrol said violence against agents is increasing in our region and along the U.S.’s southern border with Mexico.

Officials said Monday morning an agent was attacked on a street in Derby Line, Vt., by four people.

Officials said the attack was the third violent assault against an agent in the Swanton sector, which covers Northern New York to the Maine border, in less than a year.

Border Patrol said the violence is a big indicator of the increased presence of border patrol agents.

Ross DeLacy, of the U.S. Border Patrol, said, “A lot of those areas’ smugglers operated with impunity and were challenged very little, and now we’re encountering them more and more and that leads to frustrations. They’re getting caught and they’re fighting back. ”

Since Sept. 11, 2001 officials said staff at the Border Patrol has nearly tripled in size in the Swanton sector, and equipment and technology has greatly improved.

Three Brazilian nationals and one U.S. citizen have been charged following Monday’s assault.

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