ICE encounter involving Mexican immigrant in Virginia

On August 11, 2026, Jose Mejia Hernandez, a 45-year-old Mexican immigrant, was apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Arlington, Virginia. Mejia Hernandez alleges that while he was walking to work, agents used a Taser on his back, causing him to lose consciousness. He was subsequently hospitalized for three days with facial cuts, heavy bruising, and a traumatic brain injury involving a brain hemorrhage.

His attorney, Carlos Jurado, reported that a GPS ankle monitor placed on Mejia Hernandez by authorities prevented him from undergoing a necessary MRI to assess brain swelling. A request to temporarily remove the device at an immigration office in Annandale was denied, as officials required a confirmed appointment time before considering removal.

Following the incident, Virginia officials called for an investigation. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) disputed Mejia Hernandez’s account, asserting that agents used “necessary force” after he attempted to evade arrest and maintaining that he remained responsive. DHS also released information regarding Mejia Hernandez’s immigration history, noting illegal entries in 2006 and 2008, as well as a 2020 conviction for public intoxication.

Mejia Hernandez is now seeking a criminal investigation by the Arlington County Police Department. His legal counsel has requested that agents face charges of aggravated assault and attempted murder. Attorneys noted that witnesses suggested he may have been struck by an officer’s vehicle, and bystander videos reportedly show officers tending to his facial injuries immediately after the encounter. Protesters have since gathered at the Arlington County Justice Center to support his call for justice.