FBI Investigating Incident Involving Border Patrol Agents Taking Down Alleged Smuggler After Video Goes Viral

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.

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.

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.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) told the DCNF Tuesday that it couldn’t comment on the incident due to an ongoing FBI investigation.

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.