Xa Lee, a Laotian citizen with a long criminal history and an outstanding deportation order, remains at large after allegedly attempting to strike a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer with his vehicle during a traffic stop in Sacramento, California, the Department of Homeland Security said Monday.
ICE officers were attempting to take Lee into custody on March 25 when he was pulled over while driving. During the stop, Lee attempted to flee and tried to strike an ICE officer with his car. The officer was not injured, though tasers were deployed during the incident. Lee fled the scene and has not been captured.
A federal immigration judge issued a deportation order for Lee in 2010. His criminal record includes convictions for vehicle theft, stolen property, conspiracy, petty theft, two DUIs, resisting an officer, battery, and felony possession of a firearm.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats and immigrant advocacy organizations have long called for the Trump administration to halt its deportation campaigns, arguing that aggressive enforcement tactics instil fear in immigrant communities and can lead to dangerous confrontations.
U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Dan Goldman, both Democrats, have repeatedly called for the administration to end mass deportation operations. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have similarly urged the federal government to focus its enforcement efforts on individuals with serious violent crimes rather than broader immigration sweeps.
These Democratic officials argue that comprehensive immigration reform, not increased enforcement, is the long-term solution to the nation's immigration challenges. They have advocated for pathways to citizenship for longtime residents and improvements to the asylum system.
What the Right Is Saying
DHS has criticized what it calls sanctuary politicians and progressive leaders, accusing them of inciting violence and resistance against federal immigration law enforcement.
Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said the incident represents "the latest in a disturbing trend of vehicle attacks" targeting ICE officers. The agency has called on sanctuary politicians, progressive activists, and media to "turn the temperature down and stop calling for violence and resistance against ICE law enforcement.
Conservatives have pointed to Lee's case as evidence of the failures of sanctuary policies, arguing that local jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement allow dangerous individuals to evade capture. Republicans have advocated for mandatory cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE, arguing that such policies are essential to public safety.
What the Numbers Show
Lee has an extensive criminal record spanning multiple categories: vehicle theft, stolen property, conspiracy, petty theft, two DUI convictions, resisting an officer, battery, and felony possession of a firearm. A federal immigration judge issued his deportation order in 2010, meaning he has been subject to removal for approximately 16 years.
DHS has requested that anyone with information about Lee's whereabouts contact the ICE tip line at 866-347-2423 or submit a tip online. The agency has not provided details on the ongoing search efforts.
This incident occurs amid heightened political tension over immigration enforcement, with DHS and conservative lawmakers frequently citing encounters involving individuals with criminal histories as justification for aggressive deportation operations.
The Bottom Line
Lee's case highlights the intersection of criminal justice and immigration enforcement, a topic that continues to generate significant political division. With Lee still at large, DHS faces questions about how a fugitive with a 16-year-old deportation order and multiple convictions remained in the country.
The agency has renewed its criticism of sanctuary policies, arguing that such jurisdictions impede federal immigration enforcement. Meanwhile, Democratic officials maintain that comprehensive reform is needed rather than heightened enforcement. The search for Lee continues, and authorities are seeking public assistance through the ICE tip line.