(NewsNation) — A day after NewsNation cameras captured apparent human smugglers carving up a border fence in Arizona, we saw the same group come back with more migrants. All the Border Patrol agent could do was implore them not to cross the fence, but scores did anyway.
At a portion of the fence in Lukeville, Arizona in the Tucson sector, alleged cartel members jumped out of their car, pretended to point a long rifle at a Border Patrol agent, and taunted him.
The agent, a member of the tactical unit, pulled out a taser, but the alleged smugglers still pushed someone through the fence. The group of smugglers filmed the migrants going through the fence, possibly for proof of delivery.
There’s nothing the agent can legally do to the smugglers on Mexico’s side of the fence.
Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., whose district includes this part of the border, says this incident is further proof the U.S. should deploy the National Guard.
“Our CBP agents and officers continue to be undermanned and overrun at every turn of the border crisis,” he told NewsNation. “The Biden administration must take action to fix this crisis of their own creation and the best way to start is by providing CBP with the support they deserve.”
Repairing the fence is a patchwork effort. NewsNation observed agents covering breaches with wire, but the smugglers have means of getting around that. We saw them stomp the wire down to a low enough level that someone could step over it.
Officials in Lukeville told NewsNation this specific group of smugglers is notorious for being armed and brandishing their weapons.
We’ve reached out to Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D), but did not hear back.