DHS Releases Statement on Multi-Vehicle Collision Involving ICE Operations in St. Paul
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released an official statement following a chaotic multi-vehicle crash in St. Paul, Minnesota, involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The incident, which occurred on February 11, resulted in significant damage to several vehicles and has intensified the ongoing debate regarding federal enforcement tactics in the Twin Cities.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin provided the agency’s account of the event to Border Hawk News, stating: “On February 11, ICE officers attempted to conduct a targeted vehicle stop of Alexander Romero-Avila, a Honduran national who had been released into the country in 2022. In a dangerous attempt to resist arrest, the subject tried to evade law enforcement, began driving recklessly, and ran red lights, endangering public safety.”
According to the statement, the pursuit ended when Romero-Avila’s vehicle collided with multiple civilian cars and an ICE enforcement vehicle. DHS confirmed that law enforcement immediately contacted emergency services. The suspect was transported to a local hospital for evaluation of non-life-threatening injuries. No ICE officers or bystanders were reported seriously injured, though several civilian vehicles sustained damage.
The crash occurred against the backdrop of “Operation Metro Surge,” an intensified federal immigration enforcement initiative currently underway in Minnesota. DHS officials highlighted the dangers faced by agents in the field, noting a staggering “3,200% increase in vehicle attacks” against officers. The agency asserts that such operations are necessary to apprehend individuals they categorize as public safety threats, blaming “sanctuary” policies for emboldening resistance to arrest.
However, the incident has drawn sharp criticism from local leaders and community activists who argue that the federal operation is creating unnecessary danger for residents. St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her issued a strong rebuttal following the crash, calling for an immediate end to Operation Metro Surge. “The incident today underscores the fact that ICE is still present, causing chaos, and putting residents at risk in St. Paul,” Mayor Her said. “Because of the reckless way that ICE is running their operation, one person ended up in the hospital… and several bystanders had their cars damaged.”
Witnesses at the scene described a heavy law enforcement presence, with anti-ICE demonstrators quickly gathering to document the aftermath. Tensions remain high in the region, as this crash follows reports of other recent confrontations between federal agents and the public. While DHS maintains that Romero-Avila was a targeted priority for arrest, opponents contend that high-speed enforcement actions in dense urban areas pose an unacceptable risk to the general public.
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