A Venezuelan man, Gabriel Hurtado-Cariaco, was accused of attempting to murder an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. However, bystander videos have surfaced, contradicting the government’s account of the events.
Initial Allegations
Government officials initially labeled Hurtado-Cariaco a ‘criminal illegal immigrant’ and a ‘known Tren de Aragua terrorist.’ They also alleged that he slammed an agent’s head into the ground and choked her.
Then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche called Hurtado-Cariaco a ‘vicious Tren de Aragua gang member’ in a June 2025 Justice Department statement. The attorney general at the time, Pamela Bondi, announced a charge of attempted murder.
Contradictory Evidence
However, cellphone videos recorded by bystanders contradicted the government’s account. The videos showed the ICE agent putting Hurtado-Cariaco in a brief chokehold before punching him as he resisted and tried to stand up.
Hurtado-Cariaco’s public defender, Richard McWilliams, stated that the case is another instance where video footage or other evidence largely undercuts the government’s account of immigration enforcement actions.
Sentencing and Aftermath
Hurtado-Cariaco pleaded guilty to a felony charge of forcibly resisting arrest causing bodily injury to a federal officer. He was sentenced to 14 months in prison, with the judge recommending he receive credit for time served.
Despite the sentencing, uncertainty looms over Hurtado-Cariaco’s fate due to an immigration detainer asking the Bureau of Prisons to transfer him directly to ICE custody.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
