Border Patrol agent dragged by car driven by U.S. teenage citizen smuggling illegal immigrants

Two teenage U.S. citizens are facing charges related to a smuggling attempt that resulted in a U.S. Border Patrol agent being dragged by an SUV that contained four illegal immigrants, officials said. 

Border Patrol Tucson Sector Chief John Modlin wrote Monday on X, formerly Twitter: "2 U.S. citizens, ages 17 and 19, are facing criminal charges following a smuggling attempt." 

An agent with the Willcox, Arizona, station stopped the SUV on an interstate, "driver fled, dragging the agent approx. 6 ft.," Modlin also wrote. "The driver, passenger, and 4 migrants were arrested. Fortunately, the agent was unharmed."

The age of the driver is unclear, and Modlin did not immediately respond to Just the News' request for comment.

The incident comes as illegal immigration hit a record high of 3.2 million encounters last fiscal year, which ran from October 2022 through September 2023.

Follow Madeleine Hubbard on X or Instagram.