An El Salvadoran woman has been sentenced to 366 days in federal prison following an incident involving a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent. The altercation occurred when the agent attempted to pull her away from the border wall as part of a group being taken into custody. This information was disclosed in a post on X dated February 13.
According to the post, which referenced a U.S. Justice Department news release, the woman was identified as 27-year-old Erika Jasmin Lobato-Melendez, a Salvadoran national. The incident took place on May 29 when Lobato-Melendez refused to enter a CBP agent’s vehicle. As agents tried to remove her from the border wall, she bit one agent's forearm and attempted further aggression by trying to bite his leg and kicking after being subdued. Lobato-Melendez received a sentence of 366 days in federal prison and will face two years of supervised release followed by deportation proceedings upon her release.
The U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector oversees approximately 268 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, covering regions in West Texas and New Mexico. In New Mexico, operations are conducted through stations in Lordsburg, Deming, and Santa Teresa. Agents patrol various terrains including urban areas, deserts, and mountains to secure and monitor the border effectively. The sector is responsible for processing individuals encountered along the border and works closely with local and state law enforcement agencies during security operations. It employs advanced surveillance methods and technology to detect unauthorized crossings and other activities related to border security.
