El Salvadorian Illegal Alien Charged With Assaulting Federal Officers

Baltimore, Maryland - An El Salvadorian illegal alien made his initial appearance in federal court today, in connection with an attack on federal law enforcement during a traffic stop.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland filed a criminal complaint against Santos Alvarenga-Rodriguez, 47, for assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers in Howard County, Maryland.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the criminal complaint with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) - Baltimore Field Office.

According to the criminal complaint, on January 18, 2026, as Alvarenga-Rodriguez operated a vehicle, ICE-ERO officers checked its license plate. During the investigation, the query returned identification information for Alvarenga-Rodriguez, including a restriction code on his Maryland driver's license. The restriction code indicated that he may not be legally present in the United States. Then law enforcement conducted a traffic stop and positively identified Alvarenga-Rodriguez.

Law enforcement gave Alvarenga-Rodriguez verbal commands to exit the vehicle, but he refused. Alvarenga-Rodriguez then started the vehicle and placed his hand on the gearshift to put it into drive. The officers continued ordering Alvarenga-Rodriguez to comply with the arrest and eventually engaged him to prevent him from fleeing. As Alvarenga-Rodriguez resisted, he bit an officer on his left forearm and injured another officer by causing a laceration to the officer's nose.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Mills who is prosecuting the federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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