Fugitive with 2010 deportation order on the run after allegedly trying to strike ICE officer with vehicle in California
Key Takeaways
- DHS (Department of Homeland Security) says a Laotian national with a 2010 deportation order, identified as Xa Lee, fled after allegedly trying to hit an ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officer with his vehicle during a traffic stop in Sacramento.
- ICE officers reportedly deployed tasers; the officer was not injured and Lee remains at large. DHS is asking the public to contact the ICE tip line with information.
- DHS alleged the incident occurred amid what it described as advocacy and webinars by some elected officials advising undocumented immigrants on how to evade federal immigration enforcement.
- Criminal convictions cited by DHS — including vehicle theft, DUIs, resisting an officer, battery and felony firearm possession — are the type that typically trigger removal and limit immigration relief.
What happened
The Department of Homeland Security said ICE agents attempted to arrest Xa Lee in Sacramento on March 25. According to DHS, Lee was pulled over while driving, allegedly tried to flee and attempted to strike an ICE officer with his vehicle; the officer was not injured. DHS said agents deployed tasers and Lee drove away and remains a fugitive. It has been reported that DHS circulated the ICE tip line (866-347-2423) and an online submission option asking for leads on his whereabouts.
Legal background
A federal immigration judge issued a deportation order for Lee in 2010, meaning Lee was lawfully ordered removed from the United States. Convictions listed by DHS — including felony firearm possession and multiple DUIs — are serious criminal convictions that commonly render noncitizens removable and can bar many forms of immigration relief. Fleeing an attempted arrest or allegedly trying to strike a law enforcement officer can result in new criminal charges (for example, evading arrest or assault on an officer) and would further complicate any future legal claims to remain.
Political context and human impact
DHS alleged the evasion occurred amid what it described as a pattern of elected Democrats holding webinars and advising undocumented immigrants about how to respond to ICE encounters; it has been reported that DHS named several officials by name. Those political claims are part of a broader national debate over local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and “sanctuary” policies. For migrants and visa applicants, the practical takeaway is stark: serious criminal convictions and resistance to enforcement actions greatly reduce options for relief and increase the risk of detention, prosecution, and removal—while also heightening community tensions and complicating outreach efforts by service providers and lawyers.
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