A Jacksonville woman, Jennifer Susan Cruz, age 40, has been charged by federal complaint with assaulting officers during an immigration operation in Jacksonville, Florida. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. If convicted, Cruz could face up to eight years in federal prison.
According to the complaint, federal immigration officers and the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) were conducting an operation to locate and arrest individuals unlawfully present in the United States. During a traffic stop related to this operation, Cruz drove by while recording on her cell phone and parked near the scene. She began yelling at a trooper as she continued filming.
Immigration officers determined that the occupants of the stopped vehicle were not lawfully present in the country. Another FHP Trooper approached Cruz about her use of a cell phone while driving and asked for her driver’s license. Cruz stated she did not have it physically but had a photograph of it on her phone. The complaint states that Cruz was argumentative during this exchange but was told by the trooper that his concern was only with her use of a cell phone while driving.
During their conversation, Cruz made statements referring to ICE officers as “Nazis” and expressed concerns about being shot. The trooper explained that ICE officers were present in an official capacity and reiterated that his focus was on the traffic violation.
After showing a photo of her license, it was found to be suspended since June 17, 2025. As a result, the trooper called for a tow truck to impound her vehicle because she was not legally allowed to drive it. While waiting for the tow truck, Cruz drove away from the scene but was quickly stopped nearby by law enforcement vehicles.
Upon being stopped again, Cruz exited her car when instructed but became verbally hostile and refused repeated requests to hand over her keys. When an officer tried to retrieve them, she struck him in the face with a closed fist. Officers then attempted to arrest Cruz; she resisted by trying to strike and kick them.
As they took her toward an FHP patrol vehicle, she kicked at several officers including an ICE officer and a Customs and Border Protection agent—successfully striking both agents; one sustained an injury to his left hand. Officers managed eventually to secure Cruz inside the patrol vehicle despite continued resistance.
While being transported after arrest, Cruz remarked that escalating events “over a set of car keys” had not been worth it. Later calls included admissions such as having “messed up really ugly” and apologies directed at one of the injured troopers: she said she did not know why she acted as she did but acknowledged their role.
The authorities emphasized: “A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.”
The case is under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO), and Florida Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier will prosecute.
