The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the arrest of Gabriel Hurtado-Cariaco, a member of the Tren de Aragua gang. He is accused of violently attacking both a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agent and an FBI special agent.
"This Venezuelan national is a criminal illegal alien and Tren de Aragua gang member who violently attacked an ICE and FBI agent and has been charged with attempted murder," stated Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. "Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Our ICE agents are facing a 500% increase surge in assaults against them. Our brave law enforcement puts their lives on the line every day to arrest terrorists, gang members, and other violent criminals that the previous administration released into American communities. Secretary Noem has been clear: anyone who assaults an ICE law enforcement officer will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
On June 18, ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Omaha led an operation to arrest Hurtado-Cariaco in Bellevue, Nebraska. During the attempt to take him into custody, he allegedly launched a premeditated assault on an ICE HSI special agent.
Hurtado-Cariaco reportedly threw the ICE agent to the ground, slammed her head into the pavement, removed her body armor, and made repeated physical contact. The agent sustained serious injuries to her head and arm and was taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center for treatment. She has since been released from the hospital and is recovering at home. An FBI agent was also assaulted during this incident.
After fleeing the scene, Hurtado-Cariaco was apprehended about an hour later by coordinated law enforcement teams in the immediate area.
The Department of Justice has charged Gabriel Hurtado-Cariaco with attempted murder of a federal officer and assault of a federal officer with infliction of bodily injury.
Hurtado-Cariaco entered the U.S. illegally in 2023 but was removed by Border Patrol. In 2024, under the Biden administration, he re-entered illegally and was released into the country with a notice to appear.
