A federal grand jury in Texas has indicted 12 illegal aliens for allegedly assaulting two federal correctional officers at the East Hidalgo Detention Center in La Villa in January 2025, U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced today.
The defendants, hailing from Mexico and Guatemala, are accused of aiding and abetting the attack, which has sparked a stern response from federal authorities vowing to combat violence against law enforcement.
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The indicted individuals include Mexican nationals Bryan Hernandez-Ruiz, 25; Francisco Antonio Hernandez-Mora, 27; Ivan Ramirez-Zapata, 40; Adrian David Guzman-Salas, 28; David Ramirez-Bautista, 21; Roberto Fabian Garza-Castaneda, 49; Jose Alberto Resendez-Hernandez, 27; Jose Ramos-Lerma, 45; Ruben Gonzalez-Balderas, 29; and Oscar Ambrocio Hernandez, 25, alongside Osman Joel Hernandez-Pavon, 22, and Roger Emmanuel Lemus, 42, both from Guatemala.
All 12 are scheduled to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Juan F. Alanis on Wednesday.
According to the indictment, the group collectively participated in the assault on the two officers at the detention facility, though specific details of the incident remain undisclosed. The charges are part of a broader crackdown on violence within federal custody, particularly as the Trump administration ramps up immigration enforcement.
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“The Department of Justice has zero tolerance for violence against law enforcement officers,” Ganjei said. “The grand jury has returned an indictment that alleges a serious attack on two corrections officers, and, rest assured, the Southern District of Texas will hold accountable all those found guilty.”
If convicted, each defendant faces up to eight years in federal prison and a potential fine of $250,000. All were in custody prior to the indictment and will remain detained pending trial. The investigation was led by the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Garcia and Avery Benitez prosecuting the case.
The incident at East Hidalgo Detention Center, a facility known for housing immigration detainees, highlights ongoing tensions within the immigration detention system.
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