Free Republic

EXCLUSIVE — At least five people were involved in a maritime shooting between U.S. border agents and drug smugglers that took place off the coast of Puerto Rico early Thursday morning, the Washington Examiner was first to report Thursday. The shootout happened 14 miles off the coast of northwestern Puerto Rico. Three federal agents were shot, according to a federal officer and a statement from Customs and Border Protection. The agents were from the Customs and Border Protection's Air and Marine Operations arm. AMO agents work the air and sea to patrol for human and drug smugglers. The incident took...

A U.S. Border Patrol agent was killed in the line of duty Sunday while patrolling the Big Bend Sector of Texas along the southern border with Mexico. Agent Rogelio Martinez, 36, died of injuries sustained while responding to “activity” near Interstate 10 in the Van Horn Station area, according to a news release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Martinez and his partner, who was injured, were transported to a hospital. The partner, who was not identified, remains hospitalized in serious condition. Spokesman Carlos Diaz told The Associated Press the FBI has taken over the investigation.