ICE Officers Injured in Violent Encounter with Illegal Immigrant in Minnesota
In a dramatic confrontation that highlights ongoing tensions in immigration enforcement, several federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were injured in St. Paul, Minnesota, after a violent encounter with a Cuban immigrant. The incident, which occurred on December 21, unfolded when ICE officers identified Juan Carlos Rodrigues Romero entering a white SUV near Westminster Street and attempted to conduct what they described as a lawful traffic stop. When officers instructed Romero to roll down his window, he allegedly refused despite warnings that officers would break the window if he continued to disobey their commands. Instead of complying, Romero reportedly drove away from the scene, striking one of the officers in the process—the first in what would become a series of dangerous confrontations.
The situation escalated dramatically as ICE officers pursued Romero until he pulled into a parking lot near his residence, where he struck two parked vehicles. When officers again stopped Romero and ordered him out of his vehicle, he allegedly rammed an ICE unit and struck another officer. In response to this threat, the injured officer defensively fired two rounds from his service weapon at Romero’s vehicle, though fortunately no one was hit by the gunfire. Undeterred, Romero continued his attempt to flee, driving to the front entrance of his apartment complex where he rammed yet another ICE vehicle before attempting to escape on foot toward his apartment. The chaotic scene represented a dangerous escalation that put both officers and the public at risk.
Officers eventually managed to chase down Romero and bring him to the ground, but the struggle wasn’t over. According to ICE reports, Romero violently resisted arrest and bit one of the officers during the altercation. After a struggle, officers finally subdued Romero and placed him in handcuffs, bringing an end to the dangerous incident. Two officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the confrontation and were transported to a hospital for evaluation. Romero, who remains in ICE custody, was also taken to a hospital to be evaluated for any potential injuries sustained during the arrest. The violent nature of the confrontation underscores the potential dangers faced by immigration enforcement officers in the field, particularly during attempted apprehensions of individuals determined to evade custody.
What makes this case particularly notable is Romero’s immigration status and the circumstances of his entry into the United States. According to ICE, Romero was admitted into the U.S. earlier in 2024 under the Biden administration’s CBP One app—a digital system that allowed migrants to schedule appointments at official ports of entry before being paroled into the country. In April, however, migrants who had entered the U.S. through this system had their protections terminated and were ordered to leave the country immediately or face a permanent ban from reentering. This policy shift had significant implications for individuals like Romero who had previously been permitted to seek asylum and given temporary work authorization for two years while awaiting the outcomes of their respective immigration proceedings.
The CBP One app, which launched in January 2023, was used extensively during the Biden administration, reportedly facilitating the admission of more than 936,500 people through December 2024, according to Department of Homeland Security data cited by the New York Post. The Biden administration had expanded the use of the app to allow migrants to enter the U.S. at ports of entry or via a separate parole process, which involved them uploading information including photographs. However, the Trump administration ended the use of the CBP One app for paroling migrants on its first day in office, representing a significant shift in immigration policy. The new administration has also paused applications for parole programs and allowed ICE to cancel parole statuses for migrants who had previously been admitted under these provisions.
This incident in Minnesota comes amid increased ICE operations in the Twin Cities and other urban areas across the country, operations that have sometimes faced opposition from local officials. The confrontation between Romero and ICE officers reflects broader tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the United States, particularly as policies shift with changing administrations. As federal authorities continue to apprehend individuals deemed to be in the country illegally, incidents like this one—where officers face physical danger during enforcement actions—highlight the complex and often volatile nature of immigration enforcement on the ground. While immigration policies and approaches may change with different administrations, the fundamental challenges of balancing enforcement priorities with human safety concerns remain constant challenges for those tasked with implementing these policies in communities across America.
