Chicago Heights Man Arrested After ICE Officer Dragged During Attempted Traffic Stop

A Mexican national living in Chicago Heights was arrested Wednesday, a day after federal authorities say he dragged an ICE officer with his car while fleeing a traffic stop, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Jose Garnica-Naranjo, 32, is accused of injuring the officer during an attempted arrest Tuesday morning. DHS says ICE officers had spotted him leaving a home in Chicago Heights and followed his vehicle before trying to pull him over.

When officers approached and told him to shut off the engine, Garnica-Naranjo allegedly refused. As officers tried to remove him from the car, DHS says he accelerated while an ERO Chicago officer was partially inside the vehicle through the driver-side window.

Garnica-Naranjo then drove over a raised, tree-planted median, which threw the officer from the vehicle, according to DHS. As he fled, his car struck the officer, who was taken to a local hospital with contusions, cuts and scrapes to his legs. No broken bones were found.

Garnica-Naranjo was taken into custody the following day. DHS says he has prior convictions for domestic violence and assault.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin tied the incident to a broader pattern of attacks on ICE personnel.

“This illegal alien used his vehicle to assault one of our ICE officers, hospitalizing the officer. Thankfully, the officer has since been released from the hospital. This is just the latest example of the staggering rise in anti-ICE violence, with our officers facing a more than 1,600% increase in assaults against them.”

Mullin also criticized Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and other local officials who have accused ICE of terrorizing neighborhoods during enforcement operations.

“This is the result of anti-ICE rhetoric from sanctuary politicians like Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. DHS is calling on Governor Pritzker and all other sanctuary politicians to knock off this violent rhetoric and start cooperating with ICE before any more officers are injured in the line of duty.”