Border Patrol Agent Accused of Choking Immigrant

A U.S. Border Patrol agent was charged Monday with beating an undocumented immigrant.

In a news release, U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy said Luis Fonseca kneed and choked the immigrant while working at the Imperial Beach Border Station.

Fonseca, a five-year veteran who worked around the San Diego-Mexico border, was arrested Friday and suspended without pay, according to the Los Angeles Times.

"People detained at the border should be treated with human dignity and respect by federal agents," Duffy said in a statement.

"It is important for the public to know that the Department of Justice takes alleged civil rights violations seriously," she added. "We have processes in place to investigate and will take action where appropriate to protect those rights.”

Fonseca's bail was set at $25,000. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.

No additional information on the charges were available.