Illegal Alien Allegedly Assaults Federal Agent, Grabbing Gun During Michigan Arrest Attempt

Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against a Venezuelan national accused of assaulting a federal officer and grabbing the officer’s firearm during a struggle with law enforcement earlier this month in Utica, Michigan, as reported by Fox News.

According to the Justice Department, the suspect, identified as 33-year-old Arnoldo Jose Marquez-Pulido, allegedly fought with agents assigned to the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Task Force during an arrest attempt connected to an immigration investigation.

Authorities said the incident began when law enforcement officers conducted surveillance near a business in Utica after receiving information that individuals living in the United States illegally were working at the site as delivery drivers.

‘AMERICANS PAY THE PRICE’: An illegal immigrant from Venezuela is facing federal charges after allegedly attacking a federal agent and snatching their gun while attempting to resist arrest in Michigan.

Arnoldo Jose Marquez-Pulido, who crossed the US-Mexico border in 2024, was… pic.twitter.com/JCpYwqIQO7

— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 11, 2026

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During the surveillance operation, agents observed a vehicle registered to Marquez-Pulido leaving the parking lot. Officials said investigators determined that Marquez-Pulido was in the country illegally.

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Agents attempted what authorities described as a routine traffic stop. According to the Justice Department, Marquez-Pulido initially pulled his vehicle over but then fled the scene at what investigators described as a “high rate of speed.”

Authorities said he later returned to the business location and fled on foot.

A Homeland Security Task Force agent pursued Marquez-Pulido and eventually tackled him after investigators say he ignored commands to stop and attempted to enter the business.

The criminal complaint alleges that during the physical struggle that followed, Marquez-Pulido struck the federal agent in the face with his elbow.

Prosecutors say the suspect then reached for the agent’s service weapon, which was identified as a Glock 19 pistol.

According to the Justice Department, Marquez-Pulido was able to remove the firearm from the agent’s holster and briefly gain control of it during the struggle before the weapon fell to the ground as the agent regained leverage.

Additional officers arrived shortly afterward and recovered the firearm.

Authorities said Marquez-Pulido continued resisting arrest before he was ultimately restrained.

NEW: Venezuela illegal immigrant charged after allegedly assaulting a federal agent and grabbing his gun while resisting arrest:

Via the DoJ: “An illegal alien from Venezuela was charged in a criminal complaint with assaulting a federal law enforcement officer and grabbing and… pic.twitter.com/Mpf1gMPhmk

— Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) March 11, 2026

The Justice Department reported that the agent involved in the struggle sustained several injuries, including a contusion to his elbow, abrasions to his knees and hands, and a contusion to his cheek. A second agent suffered a knee contusion.

Both officers were treated at a hospital and later released.

Federal officials said Marquez-Pulido is believed to have entered the United States at the San Ysidro port of entry in California in 2024 without a visa or valid travel documents.

The Venezuelan national was scheduled to make his initial appearance in federal court in Detroit this week. Prosecutors said they plan to seek his detention while the case proceeds.

U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon of the Eastern District of Michigan addressed the charges in a statement.

“Some say that enforcing our nation’s immigration laws is unfair because illegal aliens are all harmless,” Gorgon said. “Today’s allegations break that narrative.”

“High-speed flight from arrest, fighting federal agents and grabbing an agent’s gun are not ‘harmless,’” he added. “And what’s ‘unfair’ is the fact that Americans pay the price for dangerous illegal aliens.”

The case comes as federal immigration enforcement has remained a major policy issue in Washington.

Officials with the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have reported increases in assaults against federal officers and said they intend to pursue individuals accused of attacking law enforcement personnel.

Meanwhile, lawmakers in the Senate remain divided over legislation tied to funding the Department of Homeland Security.

The shutdown tied to the funding dispute stretched into its 27th day on Thursday as lawmakers continued negotiations.

Immigration enforcement funding has become a central point of disagreement between Democrats and Republicans in the chamber.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Thursday that he and most Democrats were prepared to fund “most of DHS,” including the Transportation Security Administration, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, FEMA and the Coast Guard, but not Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs and Border Protection.

Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota pushed back on the claim.

“I assume the Democrat leader is aware of the fact that we have tried repeatedly to fund everything temporarily to allow the negotiations over the ICE budget to continue,” Thune said.

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