Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr., U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan | Department of Justice
A Venezuelan national was charged on March 11 with assaulting a federal law enforcement officer and taking the officer’s firearm during an attempted arrest in Detroit, according to United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr.
The case highlights concerns about public safety and the enforcement of immigration laws, as officials allege that Arnoldo Jose Marquez-Pulido, 33, resisted arrest and engaged in violent actions against federal agents.
According to the criminal complaint, Marquez-Pulido entered the United States at the San Ysidro border crossing in California in April 2024 without a visa or travel documents but was paroled into the country. Law enforcement officers from the Homeland Security Task Force began surveillance after receiving information that illegal aliens were working as delivery drivers at a business in Utica, Michigan. Agents observed Marquez-Pulido leaving the business parking lot and attempted a traffic stop. After briefly stopping, he fled at high speed before returning to the business location and attempting to escape on foot.
Agents reported that Marquez-Pulido ignored commands to stop and forcibly resisted arrest by striking an agent in the face with his elbow. He then removed a Glock Model 19 pistol from the agent’s holster and briefly wielded it before losing control of the weapon during a struggle. Additional officers secured the firearm after it fell to the ground. Both agents involved suffered injuries requiring hospital treatment but were later released.
“Some say that enforcing our nation’s immigration laws is unfair because illegal aliens are all harmless. Today’s allegations break that narrative. High speed flight from arrest, fighting federal agents, and grabbing an agent’s gun are not ‘harmless.’ And what’s ‘unfair’ is the fact that Americans pay the price for dangerous illegal aliens,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon.
“Homeland Security Investigations remains committed to holding accountable those who threaten law enforcement and public safety,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “Attacks like this endanger not only our agents, but everyone in the vicinity. HSI Detroit will continue to respond decisively whenever our agents and partners are confronted with violence.”
“Every day ICE Detroit officers work closely with our federal partners to safeguard our communities and uphold the integrity of our nation’s immigration system,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Detroit acting Field Office Director Kevin Raycraft. “At a time when ICE officers are facing a 1,300 percent increase in assaults, ERO Detroit will relentlessly target illegal aliens who resort to violence against our officers and work to ensure they are removed from our communities.”
Authorities emphasized that a complaint is only a charge; Marquez-Pulido is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The decision on whether to seek an indictment will be made soon since felony trials cannot proceed solely on complaints.
The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations as part of Operation Take Back America.
