A Border Patrol agent in northern Vermont was fatally shot in the neck by what is reported to be an illegal immigrant, just after President Donald Trump was being sworn in hundreds of miles away in Washington on a promise to deem the border crisis a "national emergency" on his first day in office.
NewsNation's Ali Bradley reported Monday that the border agent was shot while conducting a traffic stop. The shooter, whom Bradley referred to as a "visa overstay," was also reportedly killed. CBP confirmed to Newsweek Tuesday that the agent was identified as 44-year-old David Maland.
A CBP spokesperson told Newsweek via email on Monday: "On January 20, a Border Patrol agent assigned to the US Border Patrol's Swanton Sector was fatally shot in the line of duty. The incident is currently being investigated and CBP will release additional information as soon as it becomes available."
Why This Matters
The shooting comes as much of the nation was watching Trump's presidential inauguration in Washington D.C.
During his inaugural address, Trump promised to first and foremost tackle illegal immigration. He said he would declare a national emergency at the southern border on Monday, immediately halting all illegal immigration into the U.S. and starting the return process for millions of migrants to be sent back to their countries of origin. Crossings along the southern border have fallen dramatically in recent weeks, according to CBP data.
What to Know
Vermont public safety officials issued a news release announcing that Interstate 91 at mile marker 168 was closed due to "an evolving police incident." That location is in Newport, near the Canadian border.
Bradley said Monday that Border Patrol was anticipating some of the migrants in the Vermont area to escape to Canada as Trump's crackdown on immigration began this week. She also reported that the agent who was killed Monday was recently transferred from Texas to Vermont.
What People Are Saying
Customs and Border Patrol told Newsweek in a Tuesday statement: "On Monday, January 20, Border Patrol Agent David C. Maland passed away in the line of duty. Agent Maland succumbed to injuries caused by gunfire following a traffic stop in Coventry, Vermont. U.S. Customs and Border Protection's thoughts and prayers are with Agent Maland's family during this difficult time."
President Donald Trump said during his Monday inaugural speech: "First, I will declare a national emergency at our southern border. All illegal entry will immediately be holding and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came. We will reinstate my 'Remain in Mexico' policy. I will end the practice of catch and release and I will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country."
Tom Homan, Trump's designated border czar, told Fox News on Sunday: "We move immediately. President Trump is going to sign a series of executive orders. I know what they are, but I'm not going to get ahead of them. They're going to be game-changing."
Leslie Blessing, (@leslibless, also known as "Proud Army Brat", a conservative social media personality with over 494,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter), posted on X, in part: "This is BIDEN'S wicked legacy!"
Emma Vigeland, a progressive political commentator, who co-hosts The Majority Report with Sam Seder and runs her own sports-focused show, ESVN, with 250,000 followers, caused controversy when she shared a post and video from journalist Arelis R. Hernández of a migrant woman sobbing after learning her "CBP1 parole appointment" was canceled, saying on X:, "F*** anyone normalizing what is about to happen. Look at the pain on her face."
Several users replied with angry retorts like, "F*** you back. A border patrol agent was just shot in the neck and killed in Vermont by an illegal. Do you think I give two craps about this woman?" and others comparing it to photos of Laken Riley's mother crying in court as photos were shown of her daughter, who was slain by an illegal immigrant.
What's Next
According to The Associated Press, state officials are working in tandem with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to investigate the shooting.
Update 01/20/24 9:09 p.m. ET: This article was updated to include the CBP's comment to Newsweek and additional information.
Update 01/21/24 12:09 p.m. ET: This article was updated to include additional information.
Update 01/21/24 5:21 p.m. ET: This article was updated to include additional information.
About the writer
Katherine Fung is a Newsweek reporter based in New York City. Her focus is reporting on U.S. and world politics. ... Read more