Miguel Angel Acatzihua-Temoxtle, Assault on Federal Officers, Arizona 2022

A chilling tale of violence on the Arizona border has come to a close with the sentencing of a 26-year-old Mexican national for assaulting federal officers.

Miguel Angel Acatzihua-Temoxtle, a citizen and national of Mexico, was handed a 30-month prison term by United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker last Thursday.

The events that led to Acatzihua-Temoxtle’s conviction unfolded on May 31, 2022, when United States Border Patrol agents received information about a group of non-citizens passing through the Baboquivari Mountain range near Newfield, Arizona.

As agents attempted to apprehend the group, Acatzihua-Temoxtle fled up the side of a wash, using large boulders to slow down his pursuers.

When caught, Acatzihua-Temoxtle physically assaulted one agent by using the agent’s flashlight and attempted to strangle another agent with his lanyard used to hold night vision goggles.

Acatzihua-Temoxtle pleaded guilty on March 15, 2023, to Assault on a Federal Officer with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon and Assault on a Federal Officer Resulting in Bodily Injury.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case, with Assistant United States Attorney Raquel Arellano handling the prosecution.

The severity of Acatzihua-Temoxtle’s actions is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by federal officers on the frontlines of border security.

As the country continues to grapple with the complexities of immigration, incidents like this serve as a poignant reminder of the need for effective and humane solutions.

In addition to his prison term, Acatzihua-Temoxtle will also serve three years of supervised release following his incarceration.

The case number for this incident is CR-22-01420-TUC-JCH, and the release number is 2023-110_Acatzihua-Temoxtle.

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