Two undocumented men charged with assaulting ICE officers in Maryland

(MARYLAND) Federal prosecutors filed criminal complaints on August 15, 2025, against two men accused of assaulting and resisting immigration officers in separate June encounters, underscoring Operation Take Back America. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland said the cases involve Adolfo Nimrod Hernandez-Ramos, 42, a Honduran national, and Tony Marcos Ferreira-Dos Santos, 30, from Brazil. Both are described as unlawfully present in the United States and now face federal charges tied to interference with officers.

The incidents: who, when, where

• June 6 — Catonsville: ICE officers had surveilled Hernandez-Ramos’s home and moved to arrest him. He ran into a store, resisted arrest, kicked at officers, and grabbed an open handcuff. During the struggle he allegedly threatened, “I’m going to slice your eye out.” Several officers were injured before he was subdued and taken into custody, the filing states.

• June 8 — Wicomico County: Officers approached two people during an enforcement action. One was a noncitizen with a final order of removal; the second was later identified as Ferreira-Dos Santos. Both fled. After detaining the first person, officers found Ferreira-Dos Santos, who fought the arrest before being handcuffed. Officers reported injuries tied to the struggle, according to the complaint filed in federal court.

Charges and agency coordination

Both defendants are charged with assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, and interfering with federal officers. The cases were announced by U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes, working with ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations in Baltimore.

Prosecutors said the matters are being handled under Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Justice Department effort focused on immigration enforcement and transnational crime.

These complaints are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Typical legal framework and process

Prosecutors often rely on federal statutes that criminalize assault or interference with officers, such as 18 U.S.C. § 111. After arrest, a common sequence follows:

1. Incident documentation by agents: injuries, statements, and evidence.
2. Filing of a criminal complaint and seeking an arrest warrant or summons.
3. Initial appearance before a magistrate judge and a detention hearing.
4. Presentation to a grand jury or proceeding by information; defense may seek release conditions.
5. Trial or plea; if convicted, possible prison time followed by immigration removal proceedings.

A concise summary table of possible outcomes:

Maryland’s local-federal enforcement boundary

Maryland’s current rules limit how far local police can go in federal immigration work. Under state law:

• Officers generally don’t ask about immigration status during routine encounters.
• Officers cannot hold someone solely for immigration reasons unless the information is central to a criminal case.

This framework leaves federal teams—ICE and the Department of Homeland Security—as the main actors in arrests like those in Catonsville and Wicomico County.

Potential change: the Rachel Morin Act (HB0085)

The Rachel Morin Act, or HB0085, debated earlier this year, would:

• Roll back limits on local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
• Ban so‑called sanctuary policies.

If enacted, the bill’s effective date would be October 1, 2025. Supporters say it would mandate closer local-federal cooperation. Opponents warn it could:

• Deter crime reporting in immigrant neighborhoods.
• Fuel fear among families with mixed immigration status.

This debate could sharpen if HB0085 moves forward in the fall.

Federal perspective and policy context

Federal officials have stressed the seriousness of assaults on officers and the need for firm enforcement under Operation Take Back America. ICE’s Baltimore Field Office has renewed calls for stronger local cooperation after some detainers were declined and suspects in violent cases were released, according to agency statements.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the initiative signals a broadened federal focus on crimes tied to unlawful presence, with closer coordination between U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and DHS components.

Practical message for noncitizens and communities

For noncitizens living and working in Maryland, the message is clear:

• Interactions with federal agents that turn physical can lead to swift federal charges in addition to immigration consequences.
• Even without weapons, actions like kicking, grabbing equipment, fleeing, or struggling can be framed as interference with officers.
• That exposure can convert a civil removal matter into a criminal case with potentially lasting consequences.

Community groups and some Maryland lawmakers continue to press for guardrails on enforcement in sensitive places like schools, hospitals, and places of worship. They argue fear of arrest can stop victims and witnesses from coming forward. Others counter that full cooperation with federal agencies is needed to prevent repeat crimes by those already ordered removed.

Current status of the cases

At this stage, both matters are at the complaint phase. Hernandez-Ramos and Ferreira-Dos Santos remain charged, not convicted. The complaints allege physical confrontations with ICE officers, injuries to agents, and arrests following short foot chases.

Court filings and hearing dates will determine next steps, including detention rulings and whether indictments issue.

These two cases illustrate how Operation Take Back America is manifesting on the ground: routine enforcement in neighborhoods and shopping areas, and rapid pursuits on the Eastern Shore. When force is used, legal stakes escalate quickly.

For official updates on these prosecutions, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland maintains case announcements and contacts here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-md.

These cases will be watched by immigrant families, local police chiefs, and federal agents as courts determine the next moves.