ICE ERO Seattle agents break into vehicle to arrest 2 suspected Tren de Aragua gang members released from county jail

An ICE operation in Spokane, Washington, resulted in the arrest of two suspected Tren de Aragua gang members with violent criminal records who were previously released from county jail after local authorities refused to comply with an ICE detainer. Jeison Ruiz Rodriguez, 26, and Cesar Ruiz Rodriguez, 22, both citizens of Nicaragua, were taken into federal custody on March 10. The brothers were on their way to a criminal court hearing at the Spokane County Courthouse when they were intercepted by ICE agents. 

Video of the arrest captured by Kayla Somarriba, the wife of Jeison, showed federal law enforcement officers shattering the windows of a vehicle and dragging the two men out of the car. The brothers, who are in the country unlawfully, had been charged in a case that included threatening to kill a family member in December, according to court documents.

That incident prompted the arrests, said US Immigration Customs and Enforcement.

Somarriba, who was present in the vehicle, told a local paper that at least 12 agents from ICE and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) surrounded the vehicle and ordered Jeison and Cesar to exit. The brothers refused the order, which resulted in federal authorities shattering the windows of the vehicle, unlocking the car, and dragging them out.

"The aliens resisted officers during the arrest and failed to obey a lawful order to exit a vehicle, which resulted in forced entry by ICE officers," ICE spokesperson David Yost told The Post Millennial in a statement. The video posted online failed to include federal officers issuing the demands before shattering the windows, which sparked some backlash from anti-ICE community members.
 

Court documents show that Jeison Ruiz Rodriguez and Cesar Ruiz Rodriguez were arrested on December 16, 2024, by the Spokane County Sheriff's Office for allegedly threatening to kill a family member. The brothers arrived at the victim's home with three other men. At least one of the subjects pulled out a firearm and shot it into the air while standing behind Jeison's truck, according to court filings.

Jeison Ruiz Rodriguez was charged with felony harassment with a weapon and was booked into the Spokane County Jail. He spent about two months in custody before he was released on February 6 on $7,000 bail. ICE ERO Seattle said the agency placed an immigration detainer with the jail, requesting to be notified if Jeison were to be released from custody. However, the Spokane County Jail did not honor the detainer and released Jeison into the community without notifying ICE, according to the federal immigration agency.

Court filings show that Cesar Ruiz Rodriguez was booked into the Spokane County Jail on $15,000 bail on charges including burglary, malicious mischief, drive-by shooting, and threatening to kill. He was released from custody on February 20, jail records show.

ICE ERO Seattle said in the statement that the Ruiz Rodriguez brothers are suspected of being involved in the violent Tren de Aragua gang, which the United States has designated a foreign terrorist group. A police report from the Spokane County Sheriff's Office stated that Jeison and Cesar had several tattoos associated with the TdA gang, including stars, clocks, roses, weapons, an all-seeing eye, and a quote reading, "real hasta la muerte."

Despite the Ruiz Rodriguez brothers' alleged involvement with the terror group, the Spokane County Jail released them both from custody without notifying ICE due to Washington state's sanctuary laws, which prohibit jails from cooperating with ICE detainers. The law is outlined in the "Keep Washington Working Act."

According to ICE ERO Seattle, Jeison and Cesar have been transported to the ICE Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington, where they will remain in custody pending immigration proceedings. The agency has not yet released photos of the two subjects.

Members of the public can report immigration-related crimes or suspicious activity by calling (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.