Executive Summary
- Jesus Alejandro Lopez Ruiz, 29, was arrested in Lynden, WA, by a multi-agency federal task force including ICE, HSI, and Border Patrol.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection identified Ruiz as a member of the Sureño gang wanted for assaulting a law enforcement officer.
- The arrest followed an October 15 incident where authorities allege Ruiz rammed an officer’s vehicle to evade capture.
- Local activists and Ruiz’s partner have raised concerns about due process and intimidation tactics by law enforcement.
Federal authorities have arrested a Lynden, Washington man identified by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as a member of the Sureño gang. Jesus Alejandro Lopez Ruiz, 29, was taken into custody on October 29 by agents from the Department of Homeland Security following what officials described as an “extensive investigation.” Ruiz was wanted for an alleged assault on a law enforcement officer.
The arrest was the result of a collaborative effort involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Blaine Sector. According to a CBP statement, Ruiz has a history of criminal activity and was previously arrested for an immigration violation in 2016. “Through the dedication and professionalism of our agents and partners, we were able to safely apprehend a dangerous individual who posed a threat to our communities and law enforcement personnel,” said U.S. Border Patrol Blaine Sector Chief Rosario Vasquez.
Officials stated that an initial attempt to arrest Ruiz on October 15 resulted in him ramming an ICE officer’s vehicle and striking another car while fleeing. However, a spokesperson for the Washington State Patrol provided a conflicting account, stating the other driver accidentally hit the agent’s car after driving through an intersection without stopping during the pursuit.
The arrest has prompted criticism from local activists who have raised concerns regarding due process and potential intimidation tactics. Jocelyn Peña, Ruiz’s partner, reported that they had been followed by unmarked vehicles since the October 15 incident. She also alleged that after the arrest, an officer questioned her outside her workplace and transported her to another location for further interrogation, informing her she was under investigation.
Following his arrest, Ruiz was booked into Whatcom County Jail before being transferred to the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.