Friday, February 13, 2026

Federal Cases Surge Nationally Against People Accused of Following ICE in Their Vehicles

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

Federal authorities have sharply increased arrests of people accused of following immigration enforcement agents in their vehicles, according to a Reuters review of court records and interviews.

One recent case involved Becky Ringstrom, a 42-year-old Minnesota woman who was arrested after following federal immigration officers in her SUV.

Ringstrom said she was boxed in by unmarked vehicles and taken into custody by masked agents before being transported to a federal building, where she was issued a citation alleging she impeded law enforcement, Reuters reported.

Her arrest is among hundreds of cases brought under a federal statute that makes it a crime to assault, resist or interfere with federal officers performing official duties.

Reuters found the Trump administration has prosecuted at least 655 people under the law since immigration crackdowns intensified last summer — more than double the number during the same period a year earlier.

Last month a local activist was arrested by Pasadena police after an ICE agent drove to the police station when several cars began following him.

Jose Madera was stopped by Pasadena police, not ICE, and arrested for misdemeanor resisting or obstructing an officer from performing his or her lawful duties during the detainment. He was cited and released on Jan. 7.

Madera said he had been observing ICE activity after receiving reports agents were operating locally and followed an unmarked vehicle he described as driving erratically before stopping near the Pasadena Police Department headquarters building.

City officials have reiterated that Pasadena police do not participate in federal civil immigration enforcement.

The City Prosecutor’s Office said there was insufficient evidence to prove the municipal resisting case involving Madera beyond a reasonable doubt after reviewing the police report and applicable law, though officials left open the possibility the matter could be revisited if new evidence emerges.

While welcoming the city’s decision not to file charges, Madera said the prosecutor’s language allowing future review leaves uncertainty, calling the outcome “a victory for the community.”

A city spokesperson said the case would only be reopened if new information were presented.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told Reuters that ICE officers face assaults and threats and that those who obstruct enforcement actions will be held accountable under federal law.

Other arrests have followed similar encounters. Reuters reported that in Minnesota, immigration officers detained two people who had been following an ICE vehicle after authorities said they ignored warnings to stop.

The individuals were held for several hours but had not been charged as of the report.

In another incident reviewed by Reuters, officers stopped a vehicle they said had been trailing them and approached with weapons drawn while attempting to make an arrest tied to an enforcement operation.

Immigration officials told Reuters that some protesters’ names and identifying details have been collected as part of efforts to track repeated interference and refer cases for possible prosecution.

Critics, including former immigration officials and legal experts interviewed by Reuters, questioned whether simply following agents at a distance constitutes a federal crime absent physical confrontation.

Community response to immigration enforcement activity has also intensified. At a recent training session hosted by All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, nearly 800 residents packed the sanctuary to learn how to respond if they witness Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, according to Pasadena Now. Organizers said they had expected about 100 attendees, but lines stretched down the street as community members sought guidance amid heightened local enforcement and national concern.

The workshop, organized with the group Grupo Auto Defensa, focused on how observers can document detentions and assist affected families.

Participants were instructed on gathering identifying information and connecting relatives with detained individuals, Pasadena Now reported. Organizers said the large turnout reflected growing anxiety in immigrant communities and pledged to continue training and support efforts as enforcement activity persists.