The death of a US Border Patrol agent has brought the focus back on the border wall. The agent had gone to investigate something suspicious when he was attacked. Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, has said that the attackers were brutal in their methods. According to Washington Post, the attack took agent Rogelio Martinez by surprise, and he succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital. Another agent who had come to his assistance was also injured and is battling for his life. None of them had time to use their guns.

The incident took place near a drainage culvert along Interstate 10 located approximately 50 miles north of the border. This is believed to be a route used by Smugglers to transport substances like marijuana, and the tragedy has brought into focus the need for the US-Mexico Border Wall.

Donald Trump wants the wall

Border Patrol agent Rogelio Martinez (36) was on duty in southwest Texas. He came out of his vehicle to investigate and called back on his radio to report signs of suspicious activity. He began following telltale indications of unnatural activities when he was ambushed. Another agent who had come to his assistance was also attacked. Martinez, from El Paso, had been a border agent for the past four years, and the investigation is being handled by the FBI of the El Paso office.

In view of this attack, President Donald Trump has once again reiterated the need for the US-Mexico border wall to prevent such tragedies. Building a wall had been one of his election promises because he wanted to check the entry of illegal persons like migrants and smugglers into America via the Mexican route.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has announced a reward of $20,000 for information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the killing which he has termed as “murder.” He, like the president, has linked the incident to security on the Mexican border and has assured full cooperation to build the wall.

Ensuring the safety of Americans

During his election campaign, Donald Trump had indicated that he would get a wall built between America and Mexico to prevent crossover of unwanted persons like illegal migrants and drug smugglers. He had also indicated that Mexico would bear the cost of the US-Mexico border wall. As things stand now, Mexico has refused to finance the project.

In the meantime, work on the border wall has started. The preliminary design has been finalized, and prototypes are also being built, but funds are yet to be sanctioned. There are boundary walls existing at some locations and, people take advantage of gaps to gain illegal entry. Border Patrol agents maintain 24X7 surveillance to check such activities in order to ensure the safety of the United States.
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