A US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent has been charged with drunk driving in Minnesota, following his arrest by state troopers who discovered him unconscious and reportedly covered in vomit inside a vehicle. The incident occurs against the backdrop of a significant federal immigration enforcement operation in the state, which has already sparked controversy and public outcry.
Arrest Details and Charges
Alfredo Mancillas Jr, a 31-year-old border agent originally from Corpus Christi, Texas, was taken into custody early on a Tuesday morning after state police responded to a car parked illegally in a no-parking zone on a St Paul road. According to reports from the non-profit Sahan Journal, troopers found Mancillas slumped over in the vehicle, exhibiting signs of severe intoxication.
Upon approaching the vehicle, officers noted that Mancillas smelled strongly of alcohol and had watery, bloodshot eyes. He was administered a field sobriety test, which he failed. Subsequently, Mancillas refused to submit to a breath test, leading to his arrest on charges of third- and fourth-degree driving while intoxicated (DWI). Jail records confirm his booking, and he was later released on his own recognizance before noon on Tuesday, with a tentative court date set for 24 March.
Official Response and Agency Review
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees CBP, issued a statement acknowledging the arrest and confirming that the agency's professional responsibility office is conducting a review of the incident. The statement emphasised the agency's commitment to honor and integrity, noting that the majority of CBP employees perform their duties with distinction while working to maintain national security.
Attempts to contact Mancillas for comment were not immediately successful, leaving the details of his side of the story unclear as the legal process unfolds.
Context of Immigration Crackdown in Minnesota
This arrest comes just weeks after the Trump administration launched a large-scale immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota, involving over 3,000 federal agents descending on St Paul and Minneapolis. Dubbed Operation Metro Surge, the campaign has been part of a broader mass deportation initiative, but it has faced intense public backlash following tragic incidents earlier in January.
During the operation, two 37-year-old US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were fatally shot by immigration agents in Minneapolis. Good was killed on 7 January as she drove away from a confrontation, while Pretti was shot by border patrol agents on 24 January after being disarmed and restrained. These events have heightened tensions and scrutiny around the conduct of federal immigration personnel in the state.
Administrative Changes and Oversight
In response to the growing controversy, Trump administration officials have made adjustments to the leadership of the Minnesota operation. Gregory Bovino, the border patrol's commander at large, was demoted and removed from Minneapolis, with administration border chief Tom Homan taking direct charge. Homan has publicly acknowledged that certain improvements could and should be made to the operation, though he has not provided specific details on what those changes might entail.
The combination of a border agent's arrest for drunk driving and the broader issues surrounding the immigration crackdown highlights ongoing challenges in federal law enforcement operations in Minnesota, raising questions about accountability and protocol within these agencies.
