2 Arrested in Border Assault on 6 Immigrants

San Diego police and Border Patrol agents arrested two Tijuana men on suspicion of stabbing, beating and robbing six illegal immigrants who had just crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, authorities said Sunday.

The attacked occurred about 10:15 p.m. Saturday some 300 yards north of the border and about a quarter of a mile east of the San Ysidro border crossing. Victims told authorities their assailants were two men armed with knives.

During the attack, Silvestre Estrada, 22, was cut in his buttocks and lower back; Ricardo Reza, 33, was cut in his buttocks, left forearm and left shoulder; and Ebaristo Bestrano, 17, was beaten, police said.

Estrada remained hospital in good condition Sunday at UC San Diego Medical Center, a nursing supervisor said. Reza and Bestrano were treated and released, the supervisor said.

The three others in the group were not hurt, police said. But in fighting off the two attackers, the immigrants lost $700 in U.S. currency, a watch and 1-million Mexican pesos, about $400 in U.S. funds. The watch was later found, police said.

Border Patrol agents in a helicopter chased the alleged assailants about half a mile before they were apprehended by San Diego police.

Antonio Gonzalez-Gonzalez, 28, and Jose Cisnero-Tacuba, 21, both of Tijuana, were arrested on suspicion of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.