An individual residing illegally in the United States has been charged with assaulting a federal officer during an immigration enforcement operation in North Charleston, South Carolina. Alexander Garcia Vargas, 24, faces charges of assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal officer.
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 in North Charleston. Officers identified Garcia Vargas driving a vehicle registered to his name. ICE records indicated that Garcia Vargas was living in the country without legal status and had a court order for removal.
During a traffic stop, Garcia Vargas refused to lower his window but showed identification confirming his identity. When officers attempted to remove him from the vehicle, he began driving intentionally, striking two police vehicles and injuring one 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 personnel removed him from his damaged vehicle and placed him under arrest.
Garcia Vargas appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker on December 8 for an initial hearing. A detention hearing and preliminary hearing are scheduled for December 10.
Homeland Security Investigations is leading the investigation into this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cole Shannon is prosecuting the matter.
“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.”
