U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested a Guatemalan national, Miguel Tamup-Tamup, also known as Miguel Us-Tamup, who was previously deported and found to be illegally present in the United States. He faces charges of assaulting, resisting, and impeding law enforcement officers.
The incident occurred on April 30 when ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers and Homeland Security Investigations special agents attempted to apprehend Tamup for his illegal presence in the country. According to the criminal complaint, Tamup resisted arrest by struggling with the officers, leading to a serious injury of an HSI special agent.
“This individual’s aggressive actions during a lawful arrest led to serious injury to our special agents. The safety of our special agents and officers is paramount and those who resist and commit assault will find themselves facing serious criminal consequences,” stated ICE HSI Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol.
The complaint details that law enforcement stopped Tamup’s vehicle after he refused to exit voluntarily. As they tried to handcuff him, he resisted by flailing his arms and breaking free from their hold. During this struggle, one agent fell and suffered a leg injury but is expected to recover fully.
Tamup initially came under ICE scrutiny following an April 19 arrest by the Providence Police Department for driving under the influence after allegedly colliding with another vehicle. His fingerprints matched those in ICE records identifying him as being illegally in the U.S.
On May 15, authorities located Tamup at a residence in Providence where he was taken into custody. He has since appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge and remains detained.
It is important to note that a federal criminal complaint serves only as an accusation; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
