I’ve saved this January 5 Department of Justice press release to present as a case study in the atmosphere of criminality and resistance with which federal law enforcement is contending in the Twin Cities:
Juan Carlos Rodriguez Romero…has been charged by indictment with two counts of Assault on a Federal Officer with a Dangerous Weapon and one count of Assault on a Federal Officer, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
On the morning of December 21, 2025, ICE deportation officers attempted to arrest Juan Carlos Rodriguez Romero in St. Paul, Minnesota. Rodriguez Romero is a citizen of Cuba and subject to removal. Uniformed ICE agents initiated a traffic stop of Rodriguez. Rodriguez refused to obey commands and attempted to flee in his car. While fleeing, Rodriguez accelerated his car towards ICE officers who were on foot. Rodriguez sped away but soon hit two parked cars and lost control of his vehicle. ICE officers attempted to apprehend Rodriguez Romero a second time. Rodriguez Romero again accelerated his car towards officers, one of whom fired his weapon towards Rodriguez Romero. Rodriguez Romero struck one officer while trying to flee during this second attempt. When ICE officers apprehended Rodriguez Romero, he bit one of the officers, drawing blood. Two ICE officers were transported to the hospital, suffering from bruised ribs, a dislocated finger, and a bite wound.
Rodriguez Romero is detained pending a detention hearing. If convicted, he faces up to twenty years in prison on the charge of Assault on a Federal Officer with a Dangerous Weapon.
While the press release and related Star Tribune story are both dated January 5, the Star Tribune story adds:
The incident comes as ICE ramps up arrests across Minnesota as part of what the agency calls “Operation Metro Surge,” and as thousands of demonstrators have protested ICE activity in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
In a sort of back-to the-future-moment, the January 5 Star Tribune story links to the January 7 Star Tribune live update “Thousands gather to memorialize woman killed by ICE agent in Minneapolis.”
The local authorities — Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey — have demanded that ICE remove itself from the state or that President Trump order it to do so. Despite the wishes of Walz, Frey, the Star Tribune, and the thousands of demonstrators, Minnesota is not exempt from federal law or federal law enforcement. Residents would be well advised to act accordingly. The local authorities would be well advised to urge residents to act accordingly.
Cuban national charged with assaulting federal officers with a dangerous weapon
Juan Carlos Rodriguez Romero struck an ICE officer with his car and bit another agent’s hand, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. pic.twitter.com/nOwu3DxpCT
— Alpha News (@AlphaNews) January 7, 2026
Alpha News has posted the story by Crime Watch MN along with ICE photos of the suspect and his crashed vehicle above. The January 7 Star Tribune update doesn’t give any clue what the thousands of demonstrators were shouting last night…was this it?
Agitated & organized by large networks of communists & leftist extremists, a large crowd gathered in Minneapolis where the car-ramming anti-ICE rioter was shot dead. They chant about how every person must be allowed in because the US is “stolen land.” pic.twitter.com/kkVvJ0YGmK
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) January 8, 2026
