Woman arrested, accused of attacking ICE officers during immigration stop in Fort Myers

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — An undocumented immigrant from Mexico was arrested on charges of battery on a law enforcement officer following an attack on federal immigration officers during an enforcement operation in Fort Myers on Aug. 19, 2026.

Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the arrest of Maria Del Carmen Negrete Raya in a press release. Negrete Raya is accused of assaulting ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers who were conducting an immigration enforcement operation.

RELATED: ICE agents detain man outside Lee Health facility as neighbors report ICE activity across Southwest Florida

"Florida will not tolerate anyone—especially those who shouldn't even be in our country—attacking our law enforcement officers," Uthmeier said. "Our federal partners are here to enforce the law and defend America's sovereignty."

According to the press release, ICE ERO officers attempted to stop a vehicle registered to a non-U.S. citizen on Aug. 19, 2026. After the vehicle's occupants fled, Negrete Raya aggressively confronted the officers and charged toward their vehicle in an attempt to enter it, the release says. 

The press release states Negrete Raya kicked and punched the officers, including striking one in the groin. The officer sustained minor injuries as a result, and ICE ERO disengaged to de-escalate the situation.

Negrete Raya, 39, entered the United States without inspection and filed an asylum application in 2023. She was arrested on three counts of battery on a law enforcement officer in violation of Florida Statute 784.07(2)(b).

Once the charges are reclassified, they will be second-degree felonies under Florida Statute 775.0848 due to her status as an unauthorized alien and punishable by up to 15 years in prison per count. The case was initiated by the Office of Statewide Prosecution, which also provided substantial assistance in the investigation and legal counsel.

The investigation was conducted by the Florida Highway Patrol Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Intelligence in coordination with Fort Myers ICE ERO and the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

Raya has a court date set for September 28.