A Florida woman protesting against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was arrested on Tuesday morning after she punched a state trooper in the face, officials have confirmed.
Confrontation and Arrest
Jennifer Cruz, from Jacksonville, was taken into custody around 8:30 am after exiting her vehicle and striking an officer. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier detailed the incident in a social media post, stating Cruz "disagrees with immigration enforcement."
During the arrest, Cruz was seen smirking as handcuffs were applied. She then began kicking and screaming at officers attempting to place her in a police car. Dressed in black trousers and a red sweatshirt, she was heard laughing while shouting profanities at the police.
The situation escalated as she lay in the backseat, lifted her head, and kicked an officer. "Don't you dare start kicking me!" an officer warned. Cruz was eventually subdued with a taser as officers secured her in the vehicle and closed the door.
Political Point-Scoring Amid National Tensions
Attorney General Uthmeier used the arrest to draw a sharp contrast with Minnesota, where anti-ICE protests have intensified following the death of Renee Good. "But unlike Minnesota, we don’t put up with this nonsense. Not today, Jennifer," Uthmeier stated, implying that Florida authorities enforce a stricter policy against violence directed at federal agents.
Uthmeier indicated Cruz had committed "a few felonies," though the specific charges and her current custody status remain unclear at this time.
Context: A Pattern of Tough Enforcement
This incident follows another case last month where Florida officials adopted a hardline stance. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd publicly named and shamed a group of Philadelphia teenagers accused of robbing a Dick's Sporting Goods store while in the state for a football championship.
Sheriff Judd mocked the group, noting their arrests caused their team to forfeit the championship game. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis shared footage of the press conference, captioning it: "They picked the wrong state — and the wrong county."
The arrest of Cruz occurs against a backdrop of continued unrest in Minnesota. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey recently criticised ICE agents for "creating chaos" after an agent shot a suspect in the leg during an altercation. The suspect was reportedly an illegal migrant from Venezuela. Mayor Frey urged protesters to go home, warning they were "taking the bait" and exacerbating the situation.
These contrasting incidents highlight the divergent approaches to immigration enforcement and public protest unfolding in different US states.
