Woman arrested after being accused of attacking ICE officers during Fort Myers operation

A woman was arrested on Thursday after being accused of attacking Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers during an incident on August 19 in Fort Myers. According to a news release from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, on August 19, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers were conducting an immigration enforcement operation in Fort Myers and attempted to stop a vehicle registered to a non-U.S. citizen. The occupants of the vehicle ran from the scene when Maria Del Carmen Negrete Raya, 39, confronted the officers and attempted to enter their vehicle, the news release said. Negrete Raya then kicked and punched the ICE officers, including hitting one in the groin, the news release said. According to Uthmeier, Negrete Raya entered the country illegally and filed an asylum application in 2023. She was arrested on Thursday, a little over a week after the incident, following a joint operation by the Office of Statewide Prosecution, Florida Highway Patrol Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Fort Myers ICE ERO and the Lee County Sheriff's Office. Negrete Raya faces three charges of battery on a law enforcement officer and is currently being held at the Lee County Jail. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV