ICE Agents Arrest Honduran National in New Jersey Following Vehicle Ramming Incident; Agent Fires at Tires
ROXBURY TOWNSHIP, N.J. – Federal immigration authorities arrested a Honduran national in Morris County on Tuesday following a volatile roadside confrontation that saw a suspect ram a law enforcement vehicle, prompting an agent to discharge their firearm to disable the car.
The incident occurred on the morning of February 10, 2026, in the Landing section of Roxbury Township. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), agents were conducting a targeted enforcement operation to apprehend Jesus Fabian Lopez-Banegas, a man authorities described as a “criminal illegal alien” subject to a prior removal order.
The arrest attempt quickly escalated when the suspect allegedly attempted to evade capture. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that Lopez-Banegas “rammed into a law enforcement vehicle and weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run an officer over.”
In response to the immediate threat, an ICE agent drew their weapon and fired at the tires of the suspect’s vehicle. Authorities confirmed that the agent “defensively used his firearm” in accordance with training protocols to immobilize the truck and prevent further danger to officers on the scene.
Following the discharge of the weapon, Lopez-Banegas exited the vehicle and surrendered to agents. He was taken into ICE custody without further incident. Officials confirmed that there were no injuries to the suspect, the federal agents, or any bystanders.
Lopez-Banegas, a national of Honduras, was reportedly the subject of a removal order issued by an immigration judge in 2021. DHS officials noted that his criminal history includes charges related to drug trafficking, drug possession, and driving under the influence.
The confrontation has drawn attention to the increasing risks faced by federal immigration officers. In a statement addressing the Roxbury incident, a DHS spokesperson highlighted a sharp rise in aggression toward agents, citing a “3,200 percent increase in vehicle attacks and a more than 1,300 percent increase in assaults against them as they put their lives on the line.”
Footage circulating on local news outlets and social media, seemingly captured by a passing motorist’s dashboard camera, showed a pickup truck and a law enforcement sedan nose-to-nose on a snowy roadside. In the video, an agent can be seen with a weapon drawn as the suspect steps out of the truck with his hands raised, backing away from the vehicle.
Because a firearm was discharged by a law enforcement officer, the incident triggered a mandatory review by state authorities. New Jersey Acting Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced that the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) is conducting an independent investigation into the discharge of the weapon.
“We recognize that matters of this nature raise concerns within our communities,” Davenport said in a released statement. “Public safety remains our top priority. As Acting Attorney General for the State of New Jersey, it is my duty to protect the safety of residents of this state and uphold the Constitution.”
The Attorney General’s office confirmed that they are coordinating with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners as the investigation proceeds. The scene was secured by Roxbury Police, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Morris County Sheriff’s Office immediately following the arrest.
Lopez-Banegas remains in federal custody awaiting further immigration proceedings.
* ground.news
* wfin.com
* patch.com
* dailyvoice.com
* dailyvoice.com
* morristowngreen.com
* news12.com
* news12.com
* morristowngreen.com
