Illegal Alien Charged with Assaulting and Injuring Federal Officer in New Jersey

TRENTON, N.J. - A Barnegat Township illegal alien was charged with assaulting and injuring a federal officer by hitting the officer with his van, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.

Eduardo Cruz Garcia, 39, was charged by criminal complaint with assaulting a federal officer while the officer was engaged in official duties and inflicting bodily injury to the officer. Cruz Garcia had his initial court appearance yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Justin T. Quinn in Trenton federal court and was ordered detained.

"As alleged, the defendant weaponized his vehicle and conducted an egregious assault on a federal law enforcement officer during the course of his official duties. The job is hard enough. Law enforcement must be able to carry out their duties without fear of obstruction or even worse, assault. Our office will hold accountable those whom harm officers to ensure they can protect our communities without repercussions."

- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer

"The FBI considers assault on a federal officer a severe and significant violent crime. We will continue to work with our valued law enforcement partners to ensure that incidents such as these are treated with the gravity they deserve, so that men and women of federal law enforcement can continue to serve, safely returning home unharmed," said FBI Newark SAC Stefanie Roddy.

"Let these charges against Cruz Garcia be a staunch reminder that assaulting and obstructing ICE law enforcement, as alleged here, is a serious crime and a felony," said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Newark acting Field Office Director Arthur J. Wilson Jr. "Violence against our federal law enforcement officers as ICE carries out our daily mission in accordance with U.S. immigration law will not be tolerated. I want to thank our federal partners for their critical assistance in locating the defendant and ensuring that justice is sought."

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On June 15, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents stopped a white van driven by Cruz Garcia as part of an investigation. Multiple federal agents wearing vests that identified them as "ICE Police" surrounded the van with their vehicles and approached the van from the driver side and passenger side. The agents attempted to speak with Cruz Garcia and the passenger and asked them to open the van's windows, but they refused. Instead of complying with the agents' requests, Cruz Garcia fled the scene by driving the van forward while the victim, an ICE agent, was standing next to the van. Weaponizing his vehicle, Cruz Garcia struck the victim agent causing the agent's body to be wedged in between the van and one of the ICE vehicles. The victim agent fell to the ground yelling in pain. Cruz Garcia did not stop and continued driving, striking another ICE vehicle parked nearby, before fleeing the scene.

Cruz Garcia's actions injured the victim's thigh and shin, and his injuries required medical attention at a hospital.

The charge of assaulting a federal officer while the officer was engaged in official duties and inflicting bodily injury carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years' imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.

U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the criminal charge. He also thanked special agents with the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations - Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas, and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations - Newark Field Office, under the direction of acting Field Officer Director Arthur J. Wilson Jr., for their assistance in the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Suggs of the U.S. Attorney's Office Criminal Division in Trenton.

The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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Defense counsel: Benjamin West, Assistant Federal Public Defender.