A U.S. Border Patrol agent was shot and killed on his first day on the job by an illegal immigrant, hours after President Donald Trump issued a nationwide crackdown on immigration. The agent, identified as 44-year-old David Maland, was conducting a traffic stop in Waterbury, Vermont, when the shooter, who had overstayed his visa, pulled out a gun and shot him in the neck.
The agent was pronounced dead at the scene, while the shooter was also killed in the ensuing gunfight, and a woman was injured in the gunfire. The FBI is leading the investigation, but the immigration status of the shooter has not been confirmed.
The attack occurred just hours after Trump declared the border crisis a “national emergency” and pledged to end the “disastrous invasion” of America. During his inauguration speech, Trump vowed to restore “common sense” to border policing and declared that Mexican cartels that have invaded the country would be considered foreign terrorist organizations.
The attack also comes as the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) app, which allowed nearly one million illegal immigrants to enter the country, was shut down by Trump, who has made good on his campaign promise to crack down on illegal immigration. The app was shut down in one of Trump’s first executive orders, leaving thousands of immigrants without appointments and visas.
The shooting has sparked widespread outrage and concern for the safety of U.S. border agents, who are often working under dangerous conditions. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks and challenges faced by border patrol agents who put their lives on the line to protect the country.