A 26-year-old man from Katy, Texas, has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after being convicted of assaulting a U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agent during a failed attempt to smuggle an undocumented migrant through a checkpoint on U.S. Highway 57 in South Texas.
The man, identified in court documents as Kevin Dominguez, was sentenced earlier this month following a jury conviction stemming from a violent encounter with federal authorities on August 1, 2023.
The Incident at the Highway 57 Checkpoint
According to court records and testimony presented during trial, the chain of events began when Dominguez approached a Border Patrol interior checkpoint near Eagle Pass, a common crossing route for smuggling activity along the U.S.–Mexico border.
During the stop, a USBP canine unit conducted a routine inspection of his sedan. The trained dog alerted handlers to the presence of potential contraband or human movement in the trunk of the vehicle.
Agents ordered Dominguez to stop and prepare for a secondary inspection. Instead of complying, Dominguez abruptly shifted his car into reverse in an apparent attempt to flee the scene. In the process, his vehicle struck a Border Patrol agent who had been standing behind the car to prevent escape.
The impact knocked the agent to the ground, and Dominguez sped away from the checkpoint.
Within minutes, pursuing officers coordinated with local law enforcement and managed to intercept the sedan several miles down the highway. Inside the trunk of the car, agents discovered a male migrant who admitted he had agreed to pay smugglers to be transported past federal checkpoints into the interior of Texas.
Injuries and Immediate Arrest
The agent who was struck sustained non-life-threatening injuries, including bruises and muscle strain, but required medical treatment.
Dominguez was arrested without further incident and taken into federal custody. Prosecutors quickly moved to file charges that included assaulting a federal officer, human smuggling, and failure to stop at a Border Patrol checkpoint.
Although several charges were initially filed, prosecutors ultimately focused on the assault charge, which carried significant penalties under federal law.
The Federal Trial
The case went to trial in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas earlier this year.
Prosecutors presented body camera footage, surveillance from the checkpoint, and testimony from multiple Border Patrol agents to establish that Dominguez had intentionally used his vehicle as a weapon to avoid apprehension.
The defense argued that Dominguez had panicked when the canine alerted and that his actions were reckless rather than intentional. Defense attorneys emphasized his lack of a prior violent criminal record and urged the jury to consider a lesser offense.
After deliberating for less than a day, the jury returned a guilty verdict on the assault charge.
Sentencing
On September 15, 2025, the presiding judge sentenced Dominguez to 18 months in federal prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release.
While the sentence was lower than the statutory maximum, the judge cited both the seriousness of the assault and Dominguez’s relative youth in balancing punishment with the possibility of rehabilitation.
“You placed a federal officer’s life at risk and endangered everyone at that checkpoint,” the judge said in court, according to transcripts. “This type of behavior cannot be tolerated. At the same time, the Court recognizes your potential for rehabilitation and the fact that you are still a young man.”
Dominguez did not speak at length during sentencing but expressed regret, telling the court he “panicked” and “made the worst decision of his life.”
Broader Context: Human Smuggling in South Texas
The case highlights ongoing challenges faced by Border Patrol agents in South Texas, where interior checkpoints are one of the primary tools used to intercept drugs, weapons, and migrants being transported illegally into the United States.
U.S. Highway 57, which runs through Maverick County near Eagle Pass, has become a heavily monitored corridor for smuggling activity.
According to USBP statistics, canine units are responsible for a significant percentage of successful interdictions. When smugglers attempt to evade capture, confrontations can quickly escalate into dangerous situations for both law enforcement and migrants.
In fiscal year 2024 alone, Border Patrol reported over 12,000 human smuggling cases across the southwest border, with hundreds of arrests linked to assaults on officers.
Assaults on Federal Officers Rising
The Dominguez case is not isolated. Border Patrol union officials have repeatedly sounded alarms about the growing number of assaults against agents. These range from physical altercations during foot pursuits to vehicle-ramming incidents at checkpoints.
“Every day, our men and women put their lives on the line,” said a spokesperson for the National Border Patrol Council. “This case could have ended far worse. We are fortunate that the agent survived with only minor injuries.”
Department of Justice officials echoed this sentiment, noting that the government is committed to pursuing stiff penalties against individuals who endanger federal law enforcement.
Community Reaction in Katy
News of Dominguez’s conviction and sentencing has drawn mixed reactions in his hometown of Katy, a suburban community west of Houston.
Some residents expressed sympathy for the young man, describing him as someone who made a terrible decision under pressure. Others stressed that the seriousness of assaulting an officer outweighs personal circumstances.
“It’s tragic all around,” said one community member. “He threw away his future, and he put someone else’s life at risk. But maybe this will be a wake-up call for others not to get involved in smuggling.”
The Legal Consequences of Human Smuggling
Federal law classifies the smuggling, harboring, or transporting of undocumented migrants as a felony offense, punishable by up to 10 years in prison per count. When such crimes are accompanied by violence, penalties increase dramatically.
In Dominguez’s case, the assault conviction carried a maximum sentence of 8 years, though federal guidelines recommended a range of 15–21 months based on the facts of the case and his lack of prior felony convictions.
Legal experts note that the relatively moderate sentence reflects both prosecutorial discretion and the judge’s effort to impose a punishment proportionate to the harm caused.
Migrant’s Fate
The individual found in Dominguez’s trunk was turned over to immigration authorities. According to federal officials, he was processed and placed in removal proceedings. His identity was not released to the public.
Cases like this underscore the risks migrants take when relying on smugglers. Individuals are often crammed into trunks, hidden compartments, or overcrowded vehicles with little regard for safety. Numerous deaths have been reported over the years when vehicles crashed or migrants suffocated in confined spaces.
Looking Ahead
Dominguez will serve his sentence in a federal correctional facility, the location of which has not yet been publicly disclosed. He will be eligible for early release based on good behavior but must serve at least 85 percent of his term under federal guidelines.
Upon release, he will return to supervised probation, during which he will be prohibited from associating with known smugglers, traveling outside Texas without permission, or possessing firearms.
The case remains a stark reminder of the dangers and consequences of attempting to evade federal law enforcement at the border.
Broader Implications
Border security remains one of the most debated issues in U.S. politics, with lawmakers divided over enforcement strategies, funding, and humanitarian considerations. Cases like Dominguez’s often become examples cited in discussions about stricter penalties, increased resources for agents, and the need for expanded technology at checkpoints.
While Dominguez’s sentence may not make national headlines, for Border Patrol agents on the ground, it represents both justice served and an urgent reminder of the risks they face.
Conclusion
The sentencing of Kevin Dominguez closes one chapter in a case that began with a routine checkpoint inspection and escalated into a violent confrontation. It also adds to the broader story of how human smuggling continues to fuel legal battles, political debates, and personal tragedies along the U.S.–Mexico border.
For the agent struck by the vehicle, recovery continues. For Dominguez, 18 months behind bars may be only the beginning of a lifelong reckoning with the consequences of a single reckless decision.