"A lone Border Patrol Agent responded to a report of illegal activity near a culvert by Centeno Lane in Rio Bravo, Texas where he discovered a group of illegal aliens," the release said on Wednesday. "Initial reports indicate that as the agent attempted to apprehend the group, he came under attack by multiple subjects using blunt objects. The agent fired at least one round from his service issued firearm, fatally wounding one of the assailants."
The FBI and the Texas Rangers are currently investigating the incident, according to the release.
According to the US-based media reports, the rate of the assaults against border patrol agents spiked from 584 in 2016 to 847 in 2017.
Last year, Department of Homeland Security proposed to hire additional 5,000 border patrol agents to apprehend immigrants entering the United States illegaly.