Eduardo Cruz Garcia, an illegal alien from Barnegat Township, New Jersey, has been charged with assaulting a federal officer by intentionally striking him with a van during an investigation on June 15, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced the charges against the 39-year-old, who appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Justin T. Quinn in Trenton federal court and was ordered detained. The incident occurred when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents attempted to stop Garcia's white van as part of an investigation.
Agents, identified by "ICE Police" vests, surrounded the van and asked Garcia and his passenger to open the windows, but they refused. Garcia then allegedly fled, driving forward and striking an ICE agent, wedging the officer between the van and an ICE vehicle. The agent fell, yelling in pain, and Garcia continued driving, hitting another ICE vehicle before escaping.
The victim agent sustained injuries to the thigh and shin, requiring hospital medical attention. U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer emphasized the seriousness of the alleged act, saying, "As alleged, the defendant weaponized his vehicle and conducted an egregious assault on a federal law enforcement officer during the course of his official duties."
FBI Newark SAC Stefanie Roddy added that the FBI considers such assaults "a severe and significant violent crime," while ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Newark acting Field Office Director Arthur J. Wilson Jr. stated, "Violence against our federal law enforcement officers as ICE carries out our daily mission in accordance with U.S. immigration law will not be tolerated."
The charge of assaulting a federal officer with bodily injury carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The investigation involved the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, ICE, Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, and Stafford Township Police Department. Garcia is presumed innocent until proven guilty.