Three suspected illegal immigrants were taken into custody on Monday for allegedly killing a Mexican immigration agent who had requested their identification documents, Mexican authorities reported.

The suspects—two from Venezuela and one from Colombia—were apprehended shortly after the attack on the agent, who was discovered lifeless earlier in the day, according to officials from state security and the National Migration Institute (INM). The incident occurred approximately 30 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border.

State investigators confirmed the agent, identified as Luis Alberto Olivas García, suffered a fatal head injury and showed “signs of violence.” A statement from Chihuahua state public security officials detailed that the agent appeared to have been attacked with a sharp object and possibly struck with a rock.

Special alert: 🚨

Even Mexican border patrol agents are unfortunately not safe these days!

Mexican border agent, Luis Alberto Olivas García, just lost his life at the hands of three migrants from Colombia and Venezuela.

This happened at the Precos-Samalayuca checkpoint in… https://t.co/gjty9RyBuy pic.twitter.com/3QC1iv325E

— Tom Homan – Border Czar Commentary and Updates (@TomHoman_) December 31, 2024

Olivas García, who had dedicated 30 years of service to the immigration agency, was stationed at a checkpoint just south of Ciudad Juarez, near the U.S. border city of El Paso, Texas. He was reportedly assaulted while requesting identification documents from a group of foreign nationals, according to the INM.

The incident is notable for its rarity, as deadly violence against immigration agents is uncommon. Olivas García had been honored earlier on the same day for his three decades of service, noted Jorge Armendáriz, spokesperson for Chihuahua’s security ministry.

The attack comes amid heightened tensions as illegal immigrants attempt to cross into the U.S. ahead of border crackdowns when President-elect Trump takes office.

Meanwhile, hundreds of U.S.-bound migrants were seen waiting in lengthy lines outside a Mexican immigration office in the southern part of the country on Monday. Many hope to obtain legal documents for safe passage northward, Reuters reported.

The U.S. has experienced record levels of illegal immigrants crossing its borders during the Biden-Harris administration.