A 33-year-old man from El Salvador has appeared in federal court in Houston, facing charges of assaulting and injuring an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The accused, Walter Leonel Perez Rodriguez, will remain in custody while criminal proceedings continue.
“ICE officers place their lives on the line every day to protect our country, and they deserve to be protected in return. Anyone who chooses violence over lawfulness will be met with swift charges in the Southern District of Texas,” said Ganjei. “The Department of Justice, and this office, stand firmly with law enforcement.”
According to a criminal complaint, authorities conducted a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Tahoe on November 4. Rodriguez allegedly exited the vehicle and attempted to flee after law enforcement identified themselves.
Rodriguez is accused of throwing a 32-ounce stainless steel mug filled with hot coffee at an ICE officer during the incident. The mug struck the officer’s face, causing him to fall and lose consciousness.
The officer received treatment at a hospital for second-degree burns on his neck and arms as well as a laceration to his upper lip that required 18 stitches.
Authorities state that Rodriguez had previously been removed from the United States in 2013 but returned at least two more times since then.
If convicted of assaulting, resisting or impeding a federal officer resulting in bodily injury, Rodriguez could face up to 20 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and ICE – Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Keri Fuller and Byron Black are prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, which coordinates Department of Justice resources nationwide to address illegal immigration, target cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime by streamlining efforts across multiple programs within the department.
A criminal complaint is not evidence but rather an accusation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty through due process.
