AG Sessions, Agents, Family Honor Life of Border Patrol Agent Rogelio Martinez

U.S . Attorney General Jeff Sessions led a delegation of officials and law enforcement officers to join the family of deceased Border Patrol Agent Rogelio Martinez to honor his life. The funeral mass for Agent Martinez was held at a Catholic church in El Paso, Texas on Saturday afternoon.

“It’s sad to lay down one of our own to rest,” Border Patrol agent and spokesman Ramiro Cordero told the dozens of reporters gathered to cover Martinez private funeral. “It’s sad to see that he made the ultimate sacrifice. But it honors me, and it honors every single law enforcement agent that he was willing to do that — to protect our nation, to protect our borders and to protect those who serve.”

Border Patrol agents found Agent Martinez and his partner after they responded to some type of “activity” near the West Texas town of Van Horn, Breitbart Texas reported on November 19.

One agent radioed for help and said that he was injured. Responding agents found Martinez with serious injuries to his head and body. He would later be pronounced dead from those injuries. The agents found Martinez partner who also sustained serious injury.

The exact nature of the death of Matinez and the injury to his partner are being investigated by FBI agents. Investigators said they are pursuing many possible scenarios but are investigating the matter as “an assault on a federal agent.”

The National Border Patrol Council and other Border Patrol agents who were at the scene reported the death appeared to come from an attack.

Border Patrol officials carried out a massive manhunt for any possible attackers.

Martinez’ aunt, Olivia Barnes, told reporters that she supports the border wall as proposed by President Donald Trump and asked how many more agents had to die before we would secure our border.

“I’m angry,” Barnes told the New York Times, “How many agents have to die to give security to the country?”

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced a $20,000 reward for possible attackers of Agent Martinez on Monday. FBI officials later announced an additional $25,000 reward for information on the case.

Following the funeral mass in El Paso, a long procession of federal law enforcement vehicles escorted the flag-draped casket of Agent Rogelio Martinez to his final resting place, the El Paso Times reported on Saturday evening.

Saluting law enforcement officers, family members, and supporters stood along the procession route to honor the agent who gave his life to defend the borders of our nation. A bagpipe greeting the procession as they arrived at the cemetery.

The El Paso native graduated from Irvin High School in 1999. He joined the U.S. Border Patrol in 2013. He is survived by a son, two brothers, and his fiance.

Martinez’ father, Jose Martinez, told the El Paso Times on Monday, that he told his son the job was too dangerous. “Dad, it’s the job I like,” Jose Martinez said his son told him. “I want to defend my country from terrorists … I want to prevent terrorists and drugs from coming into the country.”

“Unfortunately, he had a very dangerous work shift,” Jose Martinez told the local news reporter.

Border Patrol Agent Rogelio Martinez was the 116th law enforcement officer to give his life in service to this country during 2017. Since his death, two other law enforcement officers have died including Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Damon Allen who was shot and killed on Thanksgiving day.