El Salvadoran man in U.S. illegally is charged with assaulting Border Patrol agent

FARGO (KVRR/KFGO) – A man from El Salvador who prosecutors say is in the U.S. illegally is charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding border patrol agents during a traffic stop in northeast North Dakota late last month.

Court records filed in federal court say Carlos Guzman-Pineda was in a vehicle stopped by Grafton Police for a traffic violation during an investigation by the Border Patrol.

The police officer showed the Border Patrol agents the IDs of the three people in the vehicle. One had a Texas ID, one had a Honduran ID, and Guzman-Pineda had an El Salvadorian ID.

The Border Patrol agents determined Guzman-Pineda had an immigration detainer and tried to take him into custody. When the agents told him he was being arrested, Guzman-Pineda began resisting. He pushed one of the agents to the ground and wrapped his arm around the agent’s neck and head. The agent punched Guzman-Pineda in the face to break free.

During the struggle, the Honduran man ran from the scene. The Border Patrol agents and police officer were able to eventually detain and arrest Guzman-Pineda and the other man.

If convicted, Guzman-Pineda faces up to eight years in prison.