A Texas man has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after being convicted of assaulting a U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agent. Kevin Dominguez, 26, of Katy, Texas, was found guilty after an incident at a Border Patrol checkpoint on U.S. Highway 57 on August 1, 2023.

According to court records, Dominguez drove up to the checkpoint, where a trained USBP canine alerted agents to activity in his trunk. When agents investigated, they discovered an individual hidden inside. Rather than comply, Dominguez reversed his vehicle, hitting an agent before speeding away.

A high-speed pursuit followed, with a USBP helicopter later tracking two people fleeing from the vehicle into an open field. One of them was quickly apprehended and identified as an undocumented immigrant from Honduras. Dominguez was indicted on two charges on September 13, 2023, arrested the next day, and later pleaded guilty on January 24, 2024. His conviction resulted in an 18-month prison sentence.

In a separate case highlighting continued immigration enforcement efforts, federal authorities in El Paso, Texas, arrested four individuals involved in an alleged smuggling operation. Agents from the Ysleta Border Patrol Station’s Disrupt Unit were monitoring a motel known for housing undocumented immigrants when they noticed a car with a temporary license plate frequenting several local motels.