Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the arrest of an illegal alien from Mexico on charges of battery against a law enforcement officer following an attack against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials during a traffic stop in Fort Myers earlier this month.
“Florida will not tolerate anyone—especially those who shouldn’t even be in our country—attacking our law enforcement officers,” Uthmeier said in a release. “Our federal partners are here to enforce the law and defend America’s sovereignty. Those who assault them will face the full weight of the law. Thanks to the Office of Statewide Prosecution, the Florida Highway Patrol, ICE, and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office for investigating this case and bringing this illegal alien in to face justice.”
According to the release, Maria Del Carmen Negrete Raya was arrested after "aggressively" confronting ICE and Removal Operations (ICE ERO) officers and attempting to enter their vehicle following an immigration enforcement operation of a vehicle registered to a non-citizen in which the occupants fled. Negrete Raya also allegedly kicked and punched the officers, including striking one in the groin during the encounter.
The officer sustained minor injuries. ICE ERO disengaged Negrete Raya to de-escalate.
Negrete Raya entered the United States without inspection before filing an asylum application in 2023.
She was arrested on three counts of battery on a law enforcement officer. The chargers will be re-classified as second-degree felonies due to Negrete Raya's as an illegal alien.
Negrete Raya faces 15 years in prison on each count if convicted.
The Florida Highway Patrol Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Intelligence along with assistance from Fort Myers ICE ERO and the Lee County Sheriff's Office led the investigation.
Attorney General Uthmeier announced charges against an illegal alien for battery against a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper (FHP) trooper in a similar case in October 2025.
