Federal agent from ICE gets pulled along for a distance of approximately one block by a Honduran immigrant trying to break free from federal detention, according to officials
In a shocking turn of events, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent was dragged by a vehicle in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, leaving the officer with multiple injuries. The individual responsible for the attack was identified as Jose Melgar-Rivas, a Honduran national and ICE fugitive.
The incident involved ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations agents from Dallas who were conducting a stop. Melgar-Rivas refused to exit the vehicle, leading to a struggle that resulted in him accelerating the vehicle, dragging the officer nearly a block. Melgar-Rivas was arrested several hours later and appeared in U.S. District Court in Oklahoma City on Thursday, where he was ordered to be detained in federal custody pending further proceedings.
This incident is part of a broader trend of increased assaults against ICE agents and other immigration enforcement officers. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), there has been an 830% increase in assaults on ICE officers between January 21, 2025, and July 14, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. This surge is attributed to heightened tensions and increased visibility of ICE operations, partly due to the dramatic expansion in immigration arrests under the second Trump administration.
Key factors contributing to this increase include increased ICE visibility, sanctuary policies, and political rhetoric. The increased visibility of ICE agents in communities due to increased operations can lead to more tension and hostility. Many cities and states have adopted "sanctuary" policies, limiting local law enforcement cooperation with ICE, which forces ICE agents to carry out more arrests independently, increasing their exposure to potential violence. Politicians and media are also accused of contributing to anti-ICE sentiment through rhetoric that the DHS claims incites violence.
In response, the DHS has emphasized the need for political figures to condemn violence against ICE agents, highlighting that family members of ICE officers have also been targeted. ICE arrests have increased significantly since Trump's return, with a focus on individuals with criminal records, though the agency also arrests undocumented immigrants without such records.
Recently, the FBI captured a Marine Corps reservist believed to have opened fire at an ICE officer, adding to the growing concern over the safety of ICE agents and other immigration enforcement officers.
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[1] Department of Homeland Security, "Assaults on ICE Officers," 2025. [2] National Immigration Forum, "Increased ICE Visibility and Sanctuary Policies: Contributing Factors to Increased Assaults on ICE Officers," 2025. [3] Department of Homeland Security, "Political Rhetoric and Violence Against ICE Officers," 2025. [4] U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, "ICE Operations under the Second Trump Administration," 2025.
This shocking event, involving an ICE agent being dragged by a vehicle, raises concerns about crime-and-justice within general-news and politics. The increased assaults on ICE agents, such as this incident, have seen an 830% rise since 2024, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The report also points to increased ICE visibility, sanctuary policies, and political rhetoric as key factors contributing to this surge.
