Florida Activist Arrested After Incident with Police During ICE Standoff
An anti-ICE activist, identified as Jennifer Cruz, was taken into custody on Tuesday morning for allegedly punching a police officer during a confrontation with federal authorities. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis responded to the situation, making it clear that Florida would not tolerate such actions, stating, “It’s not Minneapolis.”
Cruz reportedly exited her vehicle and struck a state trooper in the face while law enforcement was working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents outside Mi Pueblo, a grocery store in Jacksonville. Attorney General James Usmeyer shared this information, remarking on her decision to resort to violence. “Jennifer disagreed with the immigration authorities and chose to commit a felony by getting out of her car and punching the officer,” he noted.
Footage captured by Mi Pueblo’s owner, Juan Alvarez, shows law enforcement approaching Cruz on the sidewalk and handcuffing her. He mentioned that ICE agents and state troopers were on site, detaining someone involved in the operation.
Alvarez added that tensions escalated. “He then apparently restrained another person and got into an argument with that person. It got violent, which led to more police and federal enforcement showing up,” he explained.
In another video circulating online, as officers struggled to secure Cruz, she was seen kicking, shouting, and even laughing while taunting the police. Words like “weak mother” were thrown at one officer part of the team attempting to manage the situation.
As she lay in the back of the patrol car, Cruz suddenly tried to escape, kicking an officer in her effort. One officer was heard warning her, “Don’t you dare start kicking me!” Subsequently, Cruz was subdued with a taser as police sought to ensure she remained in the vehicle, though she continued to kick the cruiser’s interior.
Cruz, 40 years old, was booked into the Duval County Jail on multiple charges, including assaulting a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence. She managed to secure bail and is expected in court on February 4.
During a subsequent news conference, Governor DeSantis took the opportunity to caution anyone thinking of obstructing federal actions on immigration. He referenced Minneapolis and emphasized that the situation would be different in Florida. “You can protest, but assaulting an officer is unacceptable. Those actions will have consequences,” he warned.
