An individual identified as Alexander Garcia Vargas, 24, has been charged with assaulting a federal officer during an immigration enforcement operation in North Charleston, South Carolina. According to authorities, Garcia Vargas was residing in the United States illegally and had a court order for removal.
On December 6, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) were conducting an enforcement action led by ICE–ERO. Officers encountered Garcia Vargas while he was driving a vehicle registered in his name.
Officials stated that Garcia Vargas refused to roll down his window during a traffic stop but provided identification confirming his identity. When an officer attempted to remove him from the vehicle, Garcia Vargas allegedly began driving the car, striking two police vehicles and injuring an officer.
Garcia Vargas then fled the scene but lost control of his vehicle and collided with another car occupied by two CBP officers. ERO and CBP officers subsequently removed him from the wrecked vehicle and placed him under arrest.
Garcia Vargas appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker on December 8. He is scheduled for a detention hearing and preliminary hearing on December 10.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Cole Shannon prosecuting the case.
“All charges in the complaint are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
