Illegal Alien Sentenced to Over 6 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting, Resisting a Federal Officer

DEL RIO, Texas - An illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 75 months in prison for assaulting a United States Border Patrol agent in 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.

According to court documents, on Sept. 4, 2024, Anastacio Hernandez-Hernandez, 45, was one of three illegal aliens encountered near Eagle Pass. The aliens ran in an attempt to escape after the agents identified themselves. One of the agents managed to tackle Hernandez-Hernandez but injured his right arm to the point where he was unable to bend it. Hernandez-Hernandez also kicked the agent in the head. An additional agent arrived and assisted in handcuffing Hernandez-Hernandez.

Hernandez-Hernandez was charged with one count of illegal re-entry on Oct. 2, 2024. A superseding indictment on Feb. 5, 2025, added the charge of assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal officer. He pleaded guilty to the second count on May 19, 2025. Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses sentenced Hernandez-Hernandez on Oct. 7, 2026.

"Border Patrol agents, on a daily basis, courageously engage with illegal aliens with no regard for their own health or safety. If you assault one of these brave men and women, we will hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law," said U.S. Attorney Simmons. "Had this defendant complied with agents, he likely would have only faced an illegal re-entry charge. Instead, he chose to resist arrest and assault an agent, and now he'll spend the next six-plus years in federal prison."

The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Warsame Galaydh prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Miner handled the sentencing.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

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