ICE agent dragged for nearly a block by Honduran migrant attempting to escape federal custody: authorities

A U S Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE agent was dragged for nearly a block in Oklahoma by an illegal alien from Honduras attempting to escape federal custody officers disclosed Jose Melgar-Rivas of Honduras has since been charged with assaulting resisting or impeding a federal officer resulting in bodily injury U S Attorney Robert J Troester of the Western District of Oklahoma declared Wednesday ICE agents pulled over a van in Oklahoma City Tuesday and Melgar-Rivas a Honduran national and an ICE fugitive refused the officer's demands to exit the truck court documents say A struggle ensued as officers attempted to remove him and Melgar-Rivas shifted the wagon into drive and fled according to a complaint An ICE officer became trapped in a door of the bicycle as it accelerated PENTAGON SCALING DOWN NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT TO LAThe officer was dragged on a road for nearly a block as Melgar-Rivas tried to escape the complaint says The officer ultimately freed himself and sustained multiple injuries ICE declared its Enforcement and Removal Operations agents from Dallas were involved in the event The agency shared two photos showing the injured agent's scraped bloodied upper thigh and a bruised and bandaged arm Melgar-Rivas was arrested several hours later prosecutors announced ICE also shared a photo with an agent holding each arm of a handcuffed Melgar-Rivas once he was taken into custody Ensuring the safety of law enforcement personnel in executing their lawful duties is paramount and it remains a top priority of the Justice Department Troester noted in a message Those who assault or interfere with members of law enforcement for absolutely doing their job enforcing the law must and will be held accountable Those who assault federal officers will face swift and stern accountability for their actions Travis Pickard Homeland Shield Investigations HSI Dallas special agent in charge of North Texas and Oklahoma added Violence and any threats of violence to a federal officer in the performance of their duties will impact in an immediate and collaborative law enforcement response to track down the perpetrator DHS ASSAULTS ON ICE NOW UP NEARLY OVER SAME TIME LAST YEAR Assaults on federal agents will not be tolerated by the FBI FBI Oklahoma City acting Special Agent in Charge Joe Ogden revealed We will continue to aggressively help and defend our fellow masses servants so they can safely carry out their sworn duties The Department of Homeland Guard has revealed a increase in assaults against ICE agents and other immigration enforcement officers in the first six months since President Donald Trump returned to office The Trump administration has pledged to hold perpetrators accountable to the fullest extent of the law The Justice Department brought charges against more than a dozen defendants in the July attack against an ICE detention center in Alvarado Texas where a police officer was shot in the neck defending the center holding prospective deportees The FBI on Wednesday captured a Marine Corps reservist inferred to have opened fire at the officer and correctional officers that night Los Angeles has seen a rash of anti-ICE demonstrations since June but the Pentagon this week removed about half of the National Guard troops federalized to protect the city arguing the bulk lawlessness had subsided Melgar-Rivas appeared Thursday in U S District Court in Oklahoma City and was ordered to be detained in federal custody pending further proceedings Prosecutors say Melgar-Rivas faces up to years in federal prison and a fine of up to if convicted CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe U S Attorney's Office reported the development is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full tools of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime