A Texas man has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after assaulting a U.S. Border Patrol agent in a violent encounter at a checkpoint last year, federal prosecutors announced Monday.
According to court records, 26-year-old Kevin Dominguez, of Katy, Texas, approached a U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) checkpoint along U.S. Highway 57 near Eagle Pass on August 1, 2023. The checkpoint, located just north of the U.S.-Mexico border, is one of several designed to intercept human smuggling operations and drug trafficking along the busy corridor.
As Dominguez pulled his gray sedan forward, a trained Border Patrol canine alerted to possible movement in the trunk of his vehicle. Agents instructed Dominguez to stop for a secondary inspection. Instead of complying, prosecutors say Dominguez suddenly shifted his car into reverse and accelerated, striking one of the agents standing behind the vehicle.
The impact knocked the agent to the ground. Dominguez then sped away from the checkpoint, initiating a brief pursuit by Border Patrol units and local law enforcement. After several miles, agents found the sedan abandoned on a rural road. The man hidden in the trunk was later located nearby and taken into custody for immigration processing.
Federal investigators identified Dominguez through vehicle registration and fingerprint evidence recovered from the car. He was arrested several days later in Katy without incident.
According to the Department of Justice, Dominguez later admitted that he had been paid several thousand dollars to smuggle the man—believed to be an undocumented migrant—from Laredo to San Antonio. His role, prosecutors said, was to drive the individual through the checkpoint, drop him off near a bus station, and collect payment upon return.
In court filings, prosecutors emphasized that Dominguez’s actions demonstrated a “blatant disregard for human life and the law,” noting that the injured agent sustained bruises and a mild concussion but has since recovered.
“Smugglers who attempt to evade law enforcement by using violence or endangering officers will face serious consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “This sentence reflects our commitment to holding individuals accountable who threaten the safety of federal agents and undermine border security operations.”
At his sentencing hearing in Del Rio federal court, Dominguez expressed remorse for his actions, telling the judge he “panicked” when he realized the agents had detected his passenger. “I wasn’t thinking straight,” he said, apologizing to the agent he struck. “I know what I did was wrong, and I’m ready to face the consequences.”
Judge Alia Moses, who presided over the case, noted that while Dominguez had no prior violent criminal history, the seriousness of assaulting a federal officer required a custodial sentence. In addition to the 18-month prison term, he was ordered to serve three years of supervised release and pay restitution to cover the injured agent’s medical expenses.
Authorities say human smuggling incidents involving physical confrontations have been on the rise along the Texas border in recent years. Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens called the case “a reminder of the daily dangers faced by our agents.”
“Our men and women encounter unpredictable situations every day,” Owens said in a statement. “Despite the risks, they remain committed to protecting our nation’s borders and ensuring the safety of the people they serve.”
Dominguez will serve his sentence at a federal correctional facility in southern Texas. The man found in his trunk was turned over to immigration authorities for removal proceedings.
Officials said the investigation was a coordinated effort between the U.S. Border Patrol, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.
The case, they added, underscores the ongoing challenges of border enforcement — and the consequences awaiting those who choose to resist it through violence.
