U.S. Agent Killed At Border Identified

(AP)  A U.S. Border Patrol agent killed after being struck by a fleeing vehicle along the border in southeastern California was identified Sunday as a 32-year-old husband and father of two.

Senior Patrol Agent Luis Aguilar was trying to stop a suspected smuggler who had illegally entered the country from Mexico when he was hit, according to Agent Michael Bernacke, a spokesman for the agency's Yuma sector.

The incident happened in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area about 20 miles west of Yuma at about 9 a.m. Saturday.

Bernacke said Aguilar was trying to place spike strips in the path of a Hummer and a Ford pickup truck on Interstate 8 when the suspected smuggler's vehicle hit and killed him.

Both vehicles fled into Mexico.

The FBI is leading the investigation, along with other federal, state and local authorities. Bernacke said Mexican authorities also have been contacted and that they are lending their full support to capture those involved.

"Today we mourn the loss of one of our own," Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar said in a statement. "This serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers our agents face every day while securing our nation's border and our way of life."

Bernacke said Aguilar was from El Paso, Texas and lived in Yuma with his family.

After a phone call was placed to Aguilar's home, family members declined to comment through a man who identified himself only as Border Patrol Agent Ruiz.

"They're still not strong enough to make any comments," Ruiz said. "He (Aguilar) was a terrific guy and everyone here took a big loss. We're all trying to cope, especially the family. We're trying to be as supportive as we can, and be here for them."

The Imperial Sand Dunes are the largest dunes in California, extending north of the border for 40 miles and averaging five miles wide.

The area is popular with off-road vehicle enthusiasts but also is frequently used by smugglers trying to bring people or drugs into the country from Mexico.

[daneman2009]

Yeah i saw that agent get run over. The dunes are called the Buttercup Dunes and it was pretty bad. Poor guy was layin some spike strips on the main road in the camp when the Hummer that the illegal was driving ran him over. It was a horrible thing to happen. OUR boarders are not boarders. they are just lines that we say exist, we have national guard troops patroling the boarder with no clearence to fire apon people entering our country, i understand that not all people entering illegaly are bad people, but its a great way for terrorist to enter our country. We need to pull out our troops from fighting a dead war and put it where we need it most. our boarder.

[underdogus]

our economy is going down the toilet, where are ya gonna get the money??? YA FRIGGIN IMBECILE!!!

[cdegolier]

This is exactly why we need a wall built.

[klingon69]

I''''ll probably vote for Edwards in the CA primary (if he''''s still running), but I''''m also pulling for Obama as my 2nd choice. If it Hillary I''''ll vote for her in the general election, but only because the republican field is soooooooooo pitiful.
Posted by SgtRDS at 11:57 AM : Jan 21, 2008
You are right about that. The reps have nobody worth looking at, I''ll probably write in Mickey Mouse instead.

[sgtrds]

I don''''t have any problem with any race or gender that wants to be pres. All I ask is that they represent ALL the citizens of the United States, not just one particular base. Sadly I haven''''t seen anyone of that quality in decades. And unfortunately doesn''''t seem to be any this time either.

Posted by Klingon69 at 11:49 AM : Jan 21, 2008

I''ll probably vote for Edwards in the CA primary (if he''s still running), but I''m also pulling for Obama as my 2nd choice. If it Hillary I''ll vote for her in the general election, but only because the republican field is soooooooooo pitiful.

[klingon69]

I got it out of a crock pot cookbook. If you decide to try it either buy two smaller chuck roasts that have been cut flat and spread it between like a sandwich or buy a larger roast and cut it in half. Surprisingly you don''''t taste any of the jelly at all, it''''s just a hint sweet and a lot less dry.
Posted by SgtRDS at 11:47 AM : Jan 21, 2008
The roast we had wasn''t dry, but will have to try the jelly sometime.

[klingon69]

Sadly I don''''t have time to argue with you right now as I have to get ready for work. Oh and the bulk of Hispanics here legally are descended from the Hispanics that were here before the US stole the American Southwest from Mexico. As they say they didn''''t cross the border, the border crossed them. And they''''re reproducing at nearly 8 times the rate of white and black Americans. Get ready for the first Hispanic president, cos it'''' only a matter of time. A very short time too.
Posted by SgtRDS at 10:14 AM : Jan 21, 2008
I don''t have any problem with any race or gender that wants to be pres. All I ask is that they represent ALL the citizens of the United States, not just one particular base. Sadly I haven''t seen anyone of that quality in decades. And unfortunately doesn''t seem to be any this time either.

[sgtrds]

Wife fixed the same for us couple nights ago, never tried the idea about jelly, but since she is diabetic, will probably have to skip that part, but those baby onions.....mmmmmmmm.

Posted by Klingon69 at 10:45 AM : Jan 21, 2008

I got it out of a crock pot cookbook. If you decide to try it either buy two smaller chuck roasts that have been cut flat and spread it between like a sandwich or buy a larger roast and cut it in half. Surprisingly you don''t taste any of the jelly at all, it''s just a hint sweet and a lot less dry.

[klingon69]

Crock pot pot roast with carrots, whole new potatoes and baby onions. With (believe it or not) a thin layer of grape jelly inside the Chuck roast for moistness and a hint of sweetness. have to work today so it should be done by the time I get home tonight.

Mmmmmmmmmmm!!!!

Oh and cresent rolls with real butter too.
Posted by SgtRDS at 10:03 AM : Jan 21, 2008
Wife fixed the same for us couple nights ago, never tried the idea about jelly, but since she is diabetic, will probably have to skip that part, but those baby onions.....mmmmmmmm.

[sgtrds]

I have been to California, to LA, SF, SD...etc. I have no desire at all to repeat those mistakes. So, who pays for the city to continuously clean up this grafilthy? Could that money be better used elsewhere, oh wait, this is LA, where the illegals are loved, and cherished...

Posted by Klingon69 at 10:34 AM : Jan 21, 2008

Actually a lot of it is done by groups like Homeboy Industries. Great organization. Off to work now.

http://www.homeboy-industries.org/