Federal immigration officials apprehended two alleged members of the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua in Spokane, Washington, after they refused to leave their vehicle during a tense encounter that was recorded on video.
The footage, captured by Kayla Somarriba, depicts Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents surrounding a car occupied by Jeison Ruiz-Rodriguez and his brother, Cesar Ruiz-Rodriguez. The brothers were reportedly en route to court for a felony harassment charge when they declined to follow ICE’s instructions. In response, agents broke the vehicle’s windows and forcibly extracted them.
As reported by the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, the men were arrested in December for allegedly threatening to kill an individual and discharging a firearm outside an apartment complex. ICE later identified them as suspected affiliates of Tren de Aragua, a well-known transnational criminal organization.
In the video, Somarriba can be heard shouting, “NO, NO, YOU CAN’T!” as ICE agents shatter the car windows and pull the suspects out.
Jeison Ruiz-Rodriguez’s attorney, Public Defender Kyle Madsen, described the incident as “horrific,” expressing disbelief over the necessity of the tactics employed. However, he acknowledged that federal law permits ICE to use force when making an arrest.
Somarriba informed KOMO that she and the brothers felt they were not obligated to comply with ICE’s commands since the agents did not present a warrant. “We know our rights,” she asserted.
An ICE spokesperson defended the agency’s actions, explaining that the men “failed to obey a lawful order to exit a vehicle, which necessitated forced entry by ICE officers.”
Despite his criticism of the arrest, Madsen conceded that ICE had the legal right to break the car windows. “I have heard numerous reports, and I would agree to some extent that law enforcement, particularly ICE, has the authority to break your windows,” he stated.
Madsen asserted that his client has no connections to Tren de Aragua.
“Absolutely not. Based on my observations, my understanding of him, and all the information provided by the state during discovery, it seems he has had no prior interactions with law enforcement, certainly nothing of significance,” he stated.
“According to the Keep Washington Working Act, local law enforcement is prohibited from collecting immigration information or sharing it with federal agencies unless there is a direct connection between the criminal allegations and an immigration matter,” Madsen contended. “In our case, it appears to me that there is no association with any gang-related activities or immigration issues.”
A hearing regarding Madsen’s motion to dismiss the criminal charges against Jeison Ruiz-Rodriguez is scheduled for March 27. However, ICE asserts that Jeison had already been flagged for deportation and should have remained in custody.
Both Jeison and Cesar Ruiz-Rodriguez were released on bail last month but are currently detained at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma while awaiting deportation proceedings.
