Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers working in St. Paul Sunday became involved in a use-of-force incident with shots fired after a suspect struck officers, rammed their vehicles, and proceeded to bite officers.
The suspect has since been identified by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE as Cuban illegal alien Juan Carlos Rodrigues Romero in statements posted on social media.
DHS posted the following:
“On Dec. 21, ICE officers positively identified Juan Carlos Rodrigues Romero, an illegal alien from Cuba, as he got into a white SUV near Westminster Street in St. Paul, Minnesota. When ICE Enforcement officers conducted a lawful vehicle stop, officers approached and identified themselves as ICE law enforcement. Romero was noncompliant and refused to roll down his window, causing officers to warn that they would have to break the window if he continued to not comply with lawful orders.
In response, Romero drove off, striking one of the officers in his attempt to escape. ICE officers gave chase, and, after a brief pursuit, Romero pulled into a parking lot near his residence and struck two parked vehicles. Officers again stopped Romero’s vehicle and commanded him to exit. Romero began ramming his car into an ICE vehicle and struck ANOTHER ICE officer. The officer who was struck by Romero’s car defensively fired two rounds from his service weapon, causing Romero to drive off again. No one was struck by any of the defensive shots fired.
Romero then drove to the front door of his apartment complex, rammed another ICE vehicle, then got out of his car and attempted to flee into his apartment. Officers pursued, and brought Romero to the ground, who continued to violently resist arrest and bit one of the officers.
Officers eventually subdued Romero and placed him in handcuffs. Two officers sustained non-life threatening injuries and were taken to the hospital for evaluation. Romero was also taken to the hospital for evaluation. He is currently in ICE custody pending further charges.
Romero was admitted into the United States in 2024 by the Biden Administration through the CBP One app, which released over a million completely unvetted illegal aliens into the interior of the United States.”
The St. Paul Police Department was quick to release a statement on Sunday stating that it had not been involved in the incident but had been called to the area on a report of shots fired.
ILLEGAL ALIEN STRIKES, BITES AND FLEES FROM OFFICERS IN MINNESOTA:
Cuban illegal alien Juan Carlos Romero today attempted to evade ICE by ramming his car into two officers AND multiple vehicles — causing officers to defensively fire their service weapons.
After a pursuit, he… https://t.co/jsglRx3h9g pic.twitter.com/ZQ2HoXa7bh
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) December 22, 2025
Two federal agents sustained non-life threatening injures and were evaluated at an area hospital. The suspect was not injured and was taken into custody by federal agents.
“This dangerous attempt to evade arrest comes after sanctuary politicians, like Governor Walz and other radical leftists, demeaned ICE and held events to help illegal aliens evade arrest,” said ICE. “Attacks on ICE are up 1,150% and death threats up 8,000%. The two officers who sustained injuries are okay, but this could have gone sideways fast.”
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
