EL PASO, TX—On October 31, 2022, the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested two Venezuelan nationals, 35-year-old Kevin Escalona Gonzalez and 27-year-old Yuleixy Mata Fuentes, for assaulting a federal officer near Ascarate Park in El Paso, Texas.

At approximately 6:45 a.m., a United States Border Patrol (USBP) Agent was advised of a group of undocumented non-citizens crossing into the United States. The USBP Agent followed the group into a residential area adjacent to Ascarate Park. The group dispersed and ran, however, the USBP Agent caught up to Gonzalez and Fuentes who refused to comply with the USBP Agent’s commands. The USBP Agent attempted to handcuff them, however, they resisted arrest and an altercation ensued. During the altercation, the USBP Agent was pushed, dragged, and punched by the individuals. The USBP Agent was able to gain control of them without further incident.

Gonzalez and Fuentes had their Initial Appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on November 1, 2022, and are currently being held at the El Paso County Correctional Facility.

“The men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol work tirelessly to keep our borders safe,” said FBI El Paso Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey R. Downey. “Assaults on Border Patrol agents or any other federal agents/officers or task force officers will not be tolerated and will be addressed swiftly by our office so they can continue to carry out their sworn duty to protect our communities.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation El Paso Field Office’s Safe Streets and Violent Crime Task Force investigated this case.

It is important to note the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.