Nicaraguan National Charged With Assaulting Deportation Officer At ICE Facility In San Jose

SAN JOSE – Francisco De-Jesus Morales has been charged with one count of forcibly assaulting a deportation officer with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).  

According to a criminal complaint and court documents filed today, Morales, 25, a national of Nicaragua, assaulted the deportation officer at an ICE facility in San Jose on May 2, 2025, when the deportation officer and two other officers attempted to take Morales into custody pursuant to a warrant for Morales’s removal and deportation from the United States.  Morales allegedly physically resisted arrest and attempted to flee from the deportation officers, resulting in a struggle and injuries to Morales and the officers.  All three deportation officers and Morales received medical treatment for injuries sustained during the physical altercation. The deportation officers’ injuries include bruising, scrapes, an ankle stress fracture/strain, a chest contusion, and a groin injury.  Morales is charged with forcibly assaulting one of the deportation officers, causing significant groin bruising.  

Morales is currently in ICE custody pending removal pursuant to his deportation order.

Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King made the announcement.

A criminal complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the count of assault on a federal officer inflicting bodily injury in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 111(a)(1) and (b).  Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Lord and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Nedrow are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Susan Kreider.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by HSI.